In treatment for hemochromatosis, a physician may order a standard blood draw of which volume?

• A. 50-100 ml
• B. 1000 ml
• C. 5-10 ml
• D. 450-500 ml

Answer: (D)

Therapeutic phlebotomy for hemochromatosis works by removing blood to lower the body's iron stores. The standard volume drawn in a single session is about 450–500 mL (roughly one unit of whole blood). This amount provides a meaningful reduction in iron—about 200–250 mg per session—while keeping the patient safely hemodynamically stable and allowing the body to replenish plasma and red cells gradually. Draws much smaller, like 5–10 mL or 50–100 mL, wouldn’t meaningfully reduce iron, and drawing about a liter would be unsafe in a single visit. Initial sessions are typically done weekly or biweekly, then spaced out for maintenance as ferritin levels normalize.