What is Phlebotomy?

Phlebotomy is the medical term meant to describe the process of making a puncture in a vein, most commonly in the forearm or higher up the arm, with the goal of drawing and usually collecting blood. It can also be referred to as venipuncture. This act may be done for a number of reasons, such as collecting samples for medical tests, for the purposes of treatment (in which case it is referred to as therapeutic phlebotomy), or for the purpose of donating blood.