Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (665 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
The techniques used to draw blood from a vein for diagnostic purposes or for treatment of certain blood disorders such as erythrocytosis, hemochromatosis, polycythemia vera, and porphyria cutanea tarda.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Venesection; Venesections; Venipuncture; Venipunctures.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Blood Specimen Collection; Punctures
- Narrower topics
- Bloodletting
- See also
- Blood Donors; Bloodletting; Infusions, Intravenous; Injections, Intravenous; Leeching; Blood Donation
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 6,437 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Phlebotomy” (counts retrieved 2026-11-04). 733 of them (11.4%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 2,836 records.
Reviews account for 684 records (10.6%) and meta-analyses for 69. Randomized controlled trials number 550 (8.5%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up a comparatively large share of this literature, which means many treatment questions have been tested directly.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 2,836 |
| 2000-2009 | 1,298 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,570 |
| 2020 onward | 733 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 684 | 10.6% |
| Meta-analyses | 69 | 1.1% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 550 | 8.5% |
Method: PubMed query "Phlebotomy"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-11-04.
Reading the evidence in diagnostics and medical technology
A test or device is judged by how well it detects a condition, how often it gives false alarms or misses cases, and whether using it improves outcomes for people. Accuracy depends on who is tested and how common the condition is, so a test that performs well in a specialist hospital can perform differently in the community. Check the reference standard, the population studied, the sensitivity and specificity and whether results were confirmed in a separate group.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reduction in Blood Culture Contamination Through Use of Initial Specimen Diversion Device | 2017 | Clinical trial Design not recorded in structured metadata | 83 | cc by PMID 28379370 · DOI · PMC5849098 |
| Errors within the total laboratory testing process, from test selection to medical decision-making - A review of causes, consequences, surveillance and solutions | 2020 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 57 | cc by PMID 32550813 · DOI · PMC7271754 |
| Doctors and vampires in sub-Saharan Africa: ethical challenges in clinical trial research | 2014 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 56 | cc by PMID 24821846 · DOI · PMC4125237 |
| Influence of therapeutic play on salivary cortisol levels in children undergoing venipuncture | 2025 | Randomized controlled trial Design not recorded in structured metadata | 0 | cc by PMID 41417331 · DOI · PMC12707757 |
Reduction in Blood Culture Contamination Through Use of Initial Specimen Diversion Device [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundBlood culture contamination is a clinically significant problem that results in patient harm and excess cost.
- Closing excerpt
- Clinical trials registrationNCT02102087.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (239 words)
BackgroundBlood culture contamination is a clinically significant problem that results in patient harm and excess cost.MethodsIn a prospective, controlled trial at an academic center Emergency Department, a device that diverts and sequesters the initial 1.5-2 mL portion of blood (which presumably carries contaminating skin cells and microbes) was tested against standard phlebotomy procedures in patients requiring blood cultures due to clinical suspicion of serious infection.ResultsIn sum, 971 subjects granted informed consent and were enrolled resulting in 904 nonduplicative subjects with 1808 blood cultures. Blood culture contamination was significantly reduced through use of the initial specimen diversion device™ (ISDD) compared to standard procedure: (2/904 [0.22%] ISDD vs 16/904 [1.78%] standard practice, P = .001). Sensitivity was not compromised: true bacteremia was noted in 65/904 (7.2%) ISDD vs 69/904 (7.6%) standard procedure, P = .41. No needlestick injuries or potential bloodborne pathogen exposures were reported. The monthly rate of blood culture contamination for all nurse-drawn and phlebotomist-drawn blood cultures was modeled using Poisson regression to compare the 12-month intervention period to the 6 month before and after periods. Phlebotomists (used the ISDD) experienced a significant decrease in blood culture contamination while the nurses (did not use the ISDD) did not. In sum, 73% of phlebotomists completed a post-study anonymous survey and widespread user satisfaction was noted.ConclusionsUse of the ISDD was associated with a significant decrease in blood culture contamination in patients undergoing blood cultures in an Emergency Department setting.Clinical trials registrationNCT02102087.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 28379370 · DOI · PMC5849098
Errors within the total laboratory testing process, from test selection to medical decision-making - A review of causes, consequences, surveillance and solutions [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Laboratory analyses are crucial for diagnosis, follow-up and treatment decisions.
- Closing excerpt
- This would hopefully lead to substantial improvements in these activities, but may also bring more value to the role of laboratory specialists within the health care setting.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (143 words)
Laboratory analyses are crucial for diagnosis, follow-up and treatment decisions. Since mistakes in every step of the total testing process may potentially affect patient safety, a broad knowledge and systematic assessment of laboratory errors is essential for future improvement. In this review, we aim to discuss the types and frequencies of potential errors in the total testing process, quality management options, as well as tentative solutions for improvement. Unlike most currently available reviews on this topic, we also include errors in test-selection, reporting and interpretation/action of test results. We believe that laboratory specialists will need to refocus on many process steps belonging to the extra-analytical phases, intensifying collaborations with clinicians and supporting test selection and interpretation. This would hopefully lead to substantial improvements in these activities, but may also bring more value to the role of laboratory specialists within the health care setting.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 32550813 · DOI · PMC7271754
Doctors and vampires in sub-Saharan Africa: ethical challenges in clinical trial research [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Collecting blood samples from individuals recruited into clinical research projects in sub-Saharan Africa can be challenging.
- Closing excerpt
- We aim at illustrating the underlying logic governing patients' fear and argue that the management of these beliefs should become an intrinsic component of clinical research.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (143 words)
Collecting blood samples from individuals recruited into clinical research projects in sub-Saharan Africa can be challenging. Strikingly, one of the reasons for participant reticence is the occurrence of local rumors surrounding "blood stealing" or "blood selling." Such fears can potentially have dire effects on the success of research projects--for example, high dropout rates that would invalidate the trial's results--and have ethical implications related to cultural sensitivity and informed consent. Though commonly considered as a manifestation of the local population's ignorance, these rumors represent a social diagnosis and a logical attempt to make sense of sickness and health. Born from historical antecedents, they reflect implicit contemporary structural inequalities and the social distance between communities and public health institutions. We aim at illustrating the underlying logic governing patients' fear and argue that the management of these beliefs should become an intrinsic component of clinical research.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 24821846 · DOI · PMC4125237
Influence of therapeutic play on salivary cortisol levels in children undergoing venipuncture [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Objectivesto investigate the influence of Instructional Therapeutic Play on salivary cortisol levels in children undergoing peripheral venipuncture.
- Closing excerpt
- Conclusionsalthough the null hypothesis was confirmed in this study, the use of Therapeutic Play for stress relief is recommended.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (140 words)
Objectivesto investigate the influence of Instructional Therapeutic Play on salivary cortisol levels in children undergoing peripheral venipuncture.Methodsrandomized controlled clinical trial, allocated into two groups: Intervention and Control, conducted in pediatric inpatient units, children's emergency rooms, and outpatient clinics of two hospitals in the city of São Paulo. A sample of 52 children, both genders, aged between 3 and 12 years, underwent venipuncture and were able to play. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with a 5% significance level and a 95% confidence interval.Resultscortisol levels decreased in both groups, but less so among children who did not receive the toy intervention, remaining lower for those who did receive the intervention, and among those who were successfully punctured on the first attempt.Conclusionsalthough the null hypothesis was confirmed in this study, the use of Therapeutic Play for stress relief is recommended.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41417331 · DOI · PMC12707757
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Haemochromatosis [5]
- Research article Adrenal vein sampling: how to make it quick, easy, and successful [6]
- Research article Skin-to-skin care for procedural pain in neonates [7]
- Research article Management of hemochromatosis. Hemochromatosis Management Working Group [8]
- Research article Hemolyzed specimens: a major challenge for emergency departments and clinical laboratories [9]
- Research article How I treat hemochromatosis [10]
References
- Rupp ME, Cavalieri RJ, Marolf C, Lyden E. Reduction in Blood Culture Contamination Through Use of Initial Specimen Diversion Device. . 2017. PMID 28379370 · DOI · PMC5849098
- Mrazek C, Lippi G, Keppel MH, Felder TK, Oberkofler H, Haschke-Becher E, et al.. Errors within the total laboratory testing process, from test selection to medical decision-making - A review of causes, consequences, surveillance and solutions. . 2020. PMID 32550813 · DOI · PMC7271754
- Peeters Grietens K, Ribera JM, Erhart A, Hoibak S, Ravinetto RM, Gryseels C, et al.. Doctors and vampires in sub-Saharan Africa: ethical challenges in clinical trial research. . 2014. PMID 24821846 · DOI · PMC4125237
- Ceribelli C, Almeida FA, Ribeiro CA. Influence of therapeutic play on salivary cortisol levels in children undergoing venipuncture. . 2025. PMID 41417331 · DOI · PMC12707757
- Powell LW, Seckington RC, Deugnier Y. Haemochromatosis. Lancet. 2016. PMID 26975792 · DOI
- Daunt N. Adrenal vein sampling: how to make it quick, easy, and successful. Radiographics. 2005. PMID 16227488 · DOI
- Johnston C, Campbell-Yeo M, Disher T, Benoit B, Fernandes A, Streiner D, et al.. Skin-to-skin care for procedural pain in neonates. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017. PMID 28205208 · DOI · PMC6464258
- Barton JC, McDonnell SM, Adams PC, Brissot P, Powell LW, Edwards CQ, et al.. Management of hemochromatosis. Hemochromatosis Management Working Group. Ann Intern Med. 1998. PMID 9867745 · DOI
- Lippi G, Plebani M, Di Somma S, Cervellin G. Hemolyzed specimens: a major challenge for emergency departments and clinical laboratories. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci. 2011. PMID 21875312 · DOI
- Adams PC, Barton JC. How I treat hemochromatosis. Blood. 2010. PMID 20308595 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.