Robert Gamble (@Rfgamble)

FDA Clears First Robot That Draws Blood On Its Own By Ellyn Vohnoutka HealthDay Reporter Medically reviewed by Drugs.com FRIDAY, Aug. 21, 2026 — The next time you roll up your sleeve for a blood test, the hand holding the needle may not be a hand at all. Federal regulators have authorized the first robot capable of drawing blood from a patient's arm on its own, with no one guiding the needle. The device is called Aletta. It is cleared for use in adults at outpatient clinics — the walk-in sites where most routine blood work is done — the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Wednesday. A phlebotomist, the trained professional who typically draws your blood, still has to start each session and stay nearby in case something goes wrong. But a single phlebotomist can oversee up to three of the machines at once. That is the point, regulators said. Clinics across the country are short on trained blood-draw staff, and patients are waiting longer as a result. "Blood draws are one of the most commonly performed medical procedures in the United States, yet patients may face delays due to a growing shortage of trained phlebotomists," said Dr. Michelle Tarver, who directs the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health. She said the decision reflects the agency's push to move new technology to patients while keeping the safety standards they expect. .. https://www.drugs.com/news/fda-clears-first-robot-draws-blood-own-131075.html?utm_source=ddc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily+Mednews+++August+22++2026&utm_content=FDA+Clears+First+Robot+That+Draws+Blood+On+Its+Own&hash2=67c18834e7adf7d56a107d539fe7968f