No-Charge Phlebotomy in Certain US Blood Centers Now Available

TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY CROSSOVER (TTCX)

This program is designated for patients who are on Testosterone Replacement Therapy and DO NOT have any other medical conditions that would require therapeutic phlebotomy. Patients who meet all regular donor eligibility criteria qualify to have their Red Blood Cells (RBCs) crossed over for use in the community. The FDA has specified that plasma products obtained from patients with polycythemia secondary to Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) should not be used for patient use. For this reason, it is important that TRT donors requiring therapeutic phlebotomy be enrolled in this program to appropriately manage their blood products. If a patient does not meet all donor eligibility requirements at the time of their donation, they may still be drawn in accordance with MD orders and their blood will be discarded (additional appointment may be required). (TTCX Enrollment Order form link)

4300 N Lamar Blvd, Austin TX 78756

Appointment only Tues-Th 8:30-3:30 *
must be scheduled through Clinical Services once orders are received.

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 512-206-1265
 
In Houston

Therapeutic patients may only be drawn on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center’s therapeutic request form must be completed by your doctor and faxed to (713) 790-1782 at least 72 hours prior to the first collection to allow time for review, Medical Director approval and data entry. Incomplete or illegible orders will not be accepted.

Download the Therapeutic Request Form

There is a $150 fee per therapeutic phlebotomy for all patients other than those with a diagnosis of hereditary hemochromatosis or secondary polycythemia due to testosterone replacement therapy, since these units may be used in some cases for transfusion to patients. Payment will be accepted onsite using a major credit card at the Neighborhood Donor Center after screening, prior to phlebotomy. A receipt and form that may be used for insurance reimbursement will be provided.
 
Therapeutic phlebotomy, which is also called bloodletting, is a medical procedure. It involves removing blood in a controlled way. The goal is to lower the levels of red blood cells in the body.

Therapeutic phlebotomy is similar to blood donation. It can reduce hematocrit levels by about 3 percent for every pint of blood taken. It is essential to find a balance between how often blood is drawn and how much is taken out. This helps avoid loss of iron and ferritin, which can cause fatigue.

After the procedure, you should:

  • Stay for at least 15 minutes.
  • Eat and drink something.
  • Drink more fluids than usual for the next 4 hours.
  • If there is bleeding from the blood draw site, raise your arm and apply pressure to the area.
Before having the procedure, you should:

  • Drink a lot of fluids to make up for the fluid that will be taken out.
  • Have a good snack one hour before you arrive, like a muffin or a sandwich.
 

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