USA: The FDA has authorized the Aletta robot, the first robotic device that collects blood, under the supervision of a specialist.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the Aletta system, developed by the Dutch company Vitestro, marking the first use of an autonomous robot for blood collection from the arms of adult patients in an outpatient setting. This robot identifies the patient's vein using infrared light technology and Doppler ultrasound, applies the tourniquet, inserts the needle, collects the blood, and changes the tubes, all under the supervision of a phlebotomist.

Although the robot can perform most of the steps, the specialist initiates and monitors the procedure, intervening in case of problems. The FDA authorization was based on clinical studies that demonstrated a success rate comparable to or higher than that achieved by trained phlebotomists, even in the case of patients with difficult veins. This innovation could help reduce the shortage of specialized personnel and streamline the blood collection process.