Phlebotomy
(Redirected from Phlebotomies)
Phlebotomy is a medical procedure involving the puncturing of a vein to extract blood. This is commonly done for laboratory testing or to treat certain blood disorders by removing excess red blood cells. The procedure is also known as venipuncture or a blood draw.
Purpose and Procedure[edit | edit source]
Phlebotomy serves two primary purposes: diagnostic and therapeutic.
- Diagnostic Phlebotomy: This is the most common reason for phlebotomy. Healthcare providers use the blood samples taken during diagnostic phlebotomy to assess the patient's health, diagnose illness, or evaluate the effectiveness of a treatment plan.
- Therapeutic Phlebotomy: This type of phlebotomy is performed to treat certain blood disorders, such as polycythemia vera or hemochromatosis, where the removal of blood from the body helps manage symptoms or prevent complications.
Phlebotomy is usually performed by a trained professional known as a phlebotomist. They use a needle to puncture a vein, typically in the patient's arm, and collect the blood into a vacuum-sealed vial. The collected sample is then sent to a laboratory for analysis.
Potential Risks and Complications[edit | edit source]
Phlebotomy is generally safe, but complications can occur, such as bruising, infection, or hematoma at the puncture site. Occasionally, a patient may experience light-headedness or fainting.
Patient Preparation and Aftercare[edit | edit source]
Prior to the procedure, patients may be instructed to fast or avoid certain medications. Post-procedure, patients are usually advised to apply pressure to the puncture site to reduce bruising, and to increase fluid intake to replenish volume loss.
Training and Certification[edit | edit source]
Becoming a phlebotomist generally requires specialized training, which includes both classroom instruction and hands-on practice. Certification, while not always required, is often preferred by employers.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
| Phlebotomy Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
| Phlebotomy Resources | |
|---|---|
|
|
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
