What type of professional is NOT typically involved in drawing ABG samples?

The correct answer highlights that a laboratory technician is not typically involved in drawing arterial blood gas (ABG) samples. This procedure is primarily conducted in clinical settings by healthcare professionals who have direct patient contact.

Physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists are all trained to perform this procedure due to their roles in monitoring and managing patients’ respiratory status and overall health. Physicians may draw ABGs themselves or authorize others to do so as part of patient assessment and treatment. Nurses are often trained to collect blood samples, including ABGs, as part of their routine patient care duties. Respiratory therapists, who specialize in the management of patients with respiratory issues, frequently perform ABG procedures to assess gas exchange and make important therapeutic decisions.

In contrast, laboratory technicians typically work in the lab analyzing specimens after they have been collected but are generally not involved in the actual drawing of blood from patients. Their work primarily focuses on specimen processing and analysis rather than clinical interactions, which is why they are not trained for or expected to perform ABG sampling directly.