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How many blood draws are safe?

03/06/2007

Question:

I have arthritis, and the doctor takes blood at each visit, several times a year. (I have had blood drawn 24 times,in the past few years.) They take it from the same spot,in my left inner arm vein. And I am wondering if the vein can be injured, or scar or collapse? How many times is safe? I am over 50.

Answer:

This question has been forwarded by Senior Health:

There is no determined number of blood draws that a person can have. Each time a needle crosses the wall of the vein, the body repairs it, so the number of draws is dependent on the bodies ability to heal these punctures. For the most part, there is a limitless number of times a person’s blood can be drawn.

For more information:

Go to the Vascular Surgery health topic.