Venesection Protocol

Venesection is a medical procedure that makes an opening in a vein to remove blood. There is a protocol, or a set of written instructions, on how this should be done. Venesection is also known as phlebotomy or "bloodletting." It is used routinely to obtain blood for testing or transfusion. Therapeutic phlebotomy can be used in certain conditions to lower a dangerously high blood pressure quickly or if you have too much iron in your blood (polycythemia).

Professional Protocol

• Professional protocol describes the steps the health care professional goes through. It tells the doctor, nurse or phlebotomist (the lab tech who sticks you in the arm) how to prepare you, what equipment to use, how to draw and preserve or discard the blood, close the wound and make sure you're okay afterward.

Patient Protocol

• If this is your first time, you may be given a patient protocol. This is an explanation of why the procedure is being done, a step-by-step description of what to expect and instructions on how you may feel and what you should do after the procedure.

Cautions

• For routine venipuncture for testing, your signed consent is required, but in emergency venesection, you may not be told what is being done or why.