Description:
Iatrogenic anemia is defined as a low number of red blood
cells, usually caused by excessive blood drawn from the patient. It is a
phlebotomist’s duty to track the quantities of blood drawn to avoid this
anemia. Phlebotomists should skillfully collect the minimum quantities of blood
required for testing while not exceeding the limits of the patient’s total
blood volume. This article discusses the accurate amount of blood to draw from
adults, infants, and neonates.
Learning Objectives:
- Recall the total blood volume formula.
- Define average blood volumes.
- Identify methods of preventing iatrogenic anemia.
Author(s):
Jeff Lavender, SGM (R), MBA, MT (AMT)
Launched: 2020