Important Note

Therapeutic phlebotomy requires physician’s written order specifying amount of blood to be collected. Therapeutic phlebotomies do not typically require a pathologist’s approval however, if withdrawing more than one unit notify a pathologist before proceeding.

A Hemoglobin/Hematocrit must be performed within 48 hours along with a history and indication for phlebotomy. A consent for treatment must be signed for each separate phlebotomy. If the order is for the patient’s first phlebotomy, the doctor must provide a diagnosis and also state the hemoglobin level below which a phlebotomy will not be performed.