If you have a condition such as polycythemia or porphyria cutanea tarda and need regular blood draws as part of your treatment, you can receive therapeutic phlebotomy at any Gulf Coast Blood Center.
Guide to the Therapeutic Donation Process
- Step 1: Your doctor sends an order to Gulf Coast Blood if you need to give blood more often than every 8 weeks or if you do not meet donor eligibility criteria.
- Step 2: Allow 3 business days for processing, then call our Donor Advocates at (713) 791-6608 to verify your order is ready before coming in to donate. We will notify you if payment is required.
- Step 3: Schedule an appointment at one of our donor centers.
Important Reminders:
- Bring your ID to your appointment; the name must match the order.
- Orders are valid for 1 year; a new order is required if your treatment changes.
- Therapeutic phlebotomy costs $150, unless you have hemochromatosis, secondary polycythemia from testosterone therapy, or Medicare/Medicaid.
- Payment will be accepted onsite using a major credit card. You’ll receive a receipt and form for insurance reimbursement.
Hemochromatosis and Testosterone Replacement Therapy Donors
Gulf Coast Blood is FDA-approved to use blood from donors with hereditary hemochromatosis or men on testosterone therapy for transfusions.
-
Donations are eligible if standard donor requirements are met (minimum hematocrit: 38% women, 39% men). Otherwise, they are treated as therapeutic and discarded.
-
These donors may give blood more often than every 8 weeks, and eligible donations count toward rewards points.
-
No fee is charged for phlebotomies.
-
A doctor’s Therapeutic Request Form is still required and must be faxed to (713) 790-1782.