Therapeutic Phlebotomy A Patient's Guide

Therapeutic phlebotomy is the controlled removal of blood (approximately one pint). The primary purpose of therapeutic phlebotomy is to reduce iron stores and red cell mass. Therapeutic phlebotomy may be indicated for conditions such as hereditary hemochromatosis, polycythemia, porphyria cutanea tarda, iron overload due to hepatitis C virus or other conditions as indicated by your physician.

Your doctor will complete and sign the Physician’s Request for Therapeutic Phlebotomy form supplied by KBC and mail or fax it to KBC’s main office. 

If your physician gives the completed paperwork to you, please mail or fax the paperwork to Kentucky Blood Center. Paperwork must be received and processed before you can visit a donor center to give blood. Our staff will not be able to perform therapeutic phlebotomy on patients who arrive at the donor center with their physician-signed form. 

KBC performs therapeutic phlebotomy at its eight donor centers. Appointment times are available on weekdays the donor center is open starting one hour after opening and ending one hour before the center closes. 

Therapeutic phlebotomy is not performed on mobile blood drives or on bloodmobiles. If calling to schedule an appointment, please indicate that you are a therapeutic patient.