There is more blood work in research trials than there is in normal medical care. And that’s a good thing. It allows us to closely track your overall health, the health of your liver and kidneys, and the health of your blood cells and electrolytes.

And it’s actually not much blood. On average, we have 77 mL of blood per kilogram of body weight. For example, with a 154-pound adult, we would draw approximately three 7 mL tubes of blood. That equates to about one-third of 1% of the blood in your body.

The next time you’re faced with blood work, remember you’re giving a very small amount to get a great amount of care.