What vein is used to remove blood test
The most commonly used vein for drawing blood (venipuncture) is the median cubital vein, located in the antecubital fossa (the bend of the elbow). It's preferred because it's large, close to the surface, and relatively fixed in place.
Other veins used include:
- Cephalic vein - on the outer (lateral) side of the forearm/upper arm
- Basilic vein - on the inner (medial) side of the forearm, used when others aren't accessible (less preferred due to proximity to the brachial artery and median nerve)
- Dorsal hand veins - used when antecubital veins are unavailable
- Femoral vein - rarely, in emergency settings
The order of preference is typically: median cubital > cephalic > basilic.
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