Dear Conrad,

At Massey University there is no formal policy, but the ethics committee
effectively mandates that it is OK for anyone who has attended phlebotomy
training course and is certified, and is mentored by an experienced phlebotomist
to place venous (not arterial) catheters and to take blood.

We have little problem getting ethics applications through for medics to perform
biopsies. However, allowance for non-medical personal is untested in New Zealand
far as I have been able to ascertain, but I am at the stage where I will try
within the next year, so are very interested in your outcome. It is difficult to
arrange for medics to come and take the samples - the main reason is they are
too busy.

I know of at least 5 PhDs who in UK, Canada, Australia, and USA who take their
own biopsies, and there is no evidence that the safety and outcomes are any
different to if a medic were taking the samples.

The concern and issues are competency and appropriate training and medical
supervision, and liability insurance for the day when something does go wrong.

Here is one reference summarizing risk factors.

Highstead RG, Tipton KD, Creson DL, Wolfe RR, Ferrando AA. Incidence of
associated events during the performance of invasive procedures in healthy human
volunteers. J Appl Physiol 2005;98:1202-6.

Would be grateful if you could write a summary when you are sufficiently
advanced.

With kind regards

David


David S. Rowlands PhD
Institute of Food Nutrition and Human Health
Massey University
Pvt Box 756, 63 Wallace St
Wellington 6021
New Zealand
P +64 4 801 5799 ext 6940
C 027 2099 383
H +64 4 499 0352