If your pediatrician feels therapeutic phlebotomy is warranted for your child, having the first two or three treatments done in a hospital therapeutic lab setting may be a safety precaution. Should any health emergency arise, emergency services are readily available in these facilities. Afterward, when conditions are stabilized and your child is confident of the procedure, extractions can be done as routine blood donation at a Red Cross or private blood collection facility. Prior to Extraction Hemoglobin or hematocrit will be measured prior to extraction. Usually one can get either hemoglobin or hematocrit, as hematocrit is 3 times hemoglobin.
Hospitals tend to do both tests.
Phlebotomy should never be done if a child, teen or anyone for that matter, has a fever, is vomiting or has blood in sputum, urine or stool. When adolescents are going through rapid growth stages associated with puberty, they should be monitored closely. It is not yet known if there is a connection between rapid growth and iron loading patterns. Initially youths may be tired following the final trial phlebotomy. They should respond within 24-48 hours with sufficient rest.