Educational Content: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.
Definition of Phlebotomy
Medically reviewed by Dr. Otari Nergadze, Neurosurgeon | Updated: January 2026
Phlebotomy: Obtaining blood from a vein. In the old days, this was done by incising (cutting) a vein and just letting the blood flow into a container. Today phlebotomy is done more neatly by puncturing a vein with a needle.
Phlebotomy may be done in order to obtain blood for diagnostic tests or to remove blood for treatment purposes (eg, to relieve the iron overload in hemochromatosis).
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