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Therapeutic Phlebotomy Services

If you are undergoing testosterone replacement therapy or have been diagnosed with hemochromatosis, South Texas Blood & Tissue may be able to provide you with therapeutic phlebotomy services.

As a nonprofit organization focused on collecting and providing hospitals with blood for patient transfusion, we perform these services for you at no charge.

Therapeutic phlebotomy patients like you may qualify to be a volunteer blood donor, too. This enables your blood to be used in patients who need transfusions. But even if you do not qualify as a donor, there will be no fee for your phlebotomy service.

South Texas Blood & Tissue Whole Blood Donation
South Texas Blood & Tissue Whole Blood Donation

How To Participate

To enroll or re-enroll in the program, you will need to have a physician complete the Prescription Order Form. If you are unable to print the form, please try opening it in a different browser or in Adobe. 

Completed forms can be emailed to the rbc_therapies@southtexasblood.org or faxed to 210-209-9998. 

After submission, please allow time for medical review. Upon approval, you will be contacted to schedule your appointment. 

Therapeutic Phlebotomy FAQs

Q: What is therapeutic phlebotomy?

Therapeutic phlebotomy is the removal of blood for medical purposes.

Therapeutic phlebotomy services are offered at all nine South Texas Blood & Tissue donor centers.

Collection frequency will be determined by your hemoglobin at the time of phlebotomy:

    • Hemoglobin > 20.0 g/dL: Can be drawn every three days 
    • Hemoglobin 16.0 – 20.0 g/dL: Can be drawn once every week
    • Hemoglobin 13.0 – 15.9 g/dL: Can be drawn once every month

If you’re undergoing testosterone replacement therapy or are diagnosed with hemochromatosis, you must pass all the normal screening procedures required of every blood donor. Your blood also will be tested to ensure it is medically safe, the same as any other donated blood product. When blood is determined suitable for transfusion, it is made available for patient use. If the blood is found unsuitable, it will not be used and, when appropriate, you will be notified.

There is never a fee for this service. To collect your blood at no cost, South Texas Blood & Tissue must have a physician’s prescription, documentation of testosterone replacement or hemochromatosis therapy, and an appointment for the phlebotomy procedure.

1 year from the prescription date on the enrollment form

A new STB&T Enrollment/Prescription Order Form needs to be completely filled out and returned to our Therapeutic Services team via email at rbc_therapies@southtexasblood.org, fax to210-209-9998, or in hand at one of our fixed sites. Please allow 7-10 business days from when the completed form is received to process your re-enrollment. Someone from the Therapeutic Services team will reach out to schedule your next appointment once re-enrollment is completed.

No, an appointment is required!

Your donation location and time will be determined when contacted to schedule your appointment.

Yes, you can still donate until that current prescription expires. If it expires and you do not have an updated prescription on file, we will need that before scheduling your next appointment. 

No, only the STB&T Enrollment/Prescription Order Form is acceptable for enrollment.

No, only the enrollment form is needed. To decrease the chance of confidential medical information being disclosed, we do not need any ancillary medical records sent. Our medical team will reach out for any additional information needed.

No, only 1 appointment can be scheduled at a time. Due to the nature of therapeutic phlebotomy, and to promote the highest level of safety we only schedule 1 appointment at a time.

Please call 210-731-2700 if you have questions or need more information.

About Us

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Careers

For more than 45 years, the nonprofit South Texas Blood & Tissue Center has focused on a critical purpose: to save and improve lives.

Inspired by a group of physicians, our organization was formed to provide blood to the South Texas region – ensuring a safe and adequate blood supply through proper testing, storage and distribution to hospitals. This essential service allows front-line workers to focus on the direct care of patients, with confidence that this lifesaving resource will be there when it’s needed most.

But we didn’t stop there. Over the years, we’ve evolved as the needs of our patients and hospitals have changed, driven to save lives in as many ways as possible.

We couldn’t do this without donors like you. We understand that the gift of donation is a personal, powerful choice that has the potential to touch a life. Today, we offer many ways to make a difference that include:

Our team has also expanded its programs, partnering with leaders within the healthcare industry to develop a wide range of therapies.