Risks
There is very little chance of problems from having blood drawn
from a vein. You may get a small bruise at the site. You can lower your chance
of bruising by keeping pressure on the site for several minutes.
In rare cases, the vein may become swollen after the blood sample
is taken. This problem is called phlebitis. You can use a warm compress several
times a day to treat this.
Ongoing bleeding can be a problem for people with bleeding
disorders. ASA (Aspirin), warfarin (Coumadin), and other blood-thinning
medicines can make bleeding more likely. If you have bleeding or clotting
problems, or if you take blood-thinning medicine, tell the doctor before your
blood is drawn.