Any phlebotomists here?

Industrialsize

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Okay, I called the other hospital in the area and the cost would be $325 in copayment to get a pint of blood drawn. I called the blood bank, they don't do it. Blood banks in other parts of the country will do it, average charge $50. That's the REAL cost. The prices here as highway robbery plain and simple.
So I decided "fuck this." I Have 18 gauge needles on hand, I got one, some alcohol pads, two rubber bands and a glass for measuring purposes. I sat down (in case I fainted) in my big shower with dark red grout, put the glass in front of me, put the rubber bands around my left arm, and put the needle in. It drained pretty well for a while then I kept it going by opening and closing my fist and turning my arm back and forth. I got about a cup's worth before the drainining slowed down to about a drop per second. So I pulled the needle, put pressure on the wound with a cotton ball soaked in alcohol, and cleaned up.
No appointment, no waiting, no $400 copayment, total time about 25 minutes, total cost about fifty cents. I'll do it again next week and then go in for a CBC.
Please be careful! Infection at the insertion site can be serious. Make sure you scrub it with soap and water and let it dry first. Chlorhexidine is far superior to alcohol pads. Scrub the area with chlorhexidine(hibiclens) and let it dry. If you're using the "crook" of your arm(antecubital fossa), learn some basic anatomy. There are nerves in there you may inadvertently hit that can cause you trouble.
 

aninnymouse

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Unless you mean taking the full draw and only selling the plasma, this is actually really dangerous. The reason too many red blood cells is an issue is because of blood viscosity. Your blood gets too thick and it can cause a myocardial infarction. It's the reason EPO and blood doping are dangerous.

Yeah, that's what I mean. Especially as he's got issues with needing whole blood drawn, it would be foolish to take only plasma.