Will Robots Replace Humans for Needle Insertion?

A New Era in Robotic Blood Collection Technology

In August 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted De Novo marketing authorization to an autonomous robotic blood collection system developed for use in adult outpatient healthcare settings.

According to the FDA's statement dated August 19, 2026, the system can collect blood from a patient's arm without requiring a human operator to directly guide the needle. However, this does not mean that the system can operate entirely independently of healthcare professionals. The procedure must be supervised by a healthcare professional trained in phlebotomy.

There is an important distinction here. The authorization granted by the FDA relates to the regulatory process in the United States. This alone does not constitute an assessment of the conditions of use or regulatory compliance of this technology in Türkiye. Conditions for its use in Türkiye are subject to the relevant national regulations.

How Does the Robot Find the Vein?

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the system is not simply its ability to insert the needle, but its capacity to identify a suitable vein.

Different imaging methods such as near-infrared light, ultrasound, and Doppler imaging may be used together in the systems being developed. These technologies help assess the location of veins and identify an appropriate vein for the procedure.

Robotic vein detection technology can evaluate imaging data and contribute to determining the appropriate area for needle placement.

The FDA-authorized system can automatically perform different stages of the procedure, including applying the tourniquet, preparing the skin, inserting the needle, collecting blood samples, switching between collection tubes, and removing the needle after the procedure.

In other words, this is not simply a device that moves a needle; it is a robotic system that combines vein assessment with multiple stages of the blood collection process.

 

 

What Do Success Rates in Robotic Blood Collection Studies Show?

To understand the role robotic blood collection technologies may play in future healthcare services, research findings need to be evaluated carefully.

In the multicenter ADOPT study published in Clinical Chemistry in 2026, the performance, safety, and patient experience associated with autonomous robotic blood collection technology were investigated.

In the relevant part of the study, a total of 1,743 participants were evaluated by the system. In 110 participants, approximately 6%, a suitable vein for automated needle insertion could not be identified, and robotic blood collection was therefore not performed.

Among the 1,633 participants in whom a suitable vein was identified and the procedure was performed, the first-attempt blood collection success rate was reported as 94.5%. This rate was reported as 92.7% among participants who stated that they had difficult venous access, 97.4% among participants with obesity, and 93.4% among those aged 65 years and older.

However, it is important to interpret these rates correctly. The 94.5% result was calculated among individuals in whom the system identified a suitable vein and performed the needle insertion. When individuals in whom no suitable vein could be identified and therefore no attempt was made were also included, the overall blood collection success rate in the study was reported as 88.5%.

For this reason, the research findings should not be interpreted as meaning that robotic blood collection has the same success rate in every individual.

The rate of device-related adverse events was reported as 0.6%, and the reported events were described as mild. In addition, when samples collected using the robotic method were compared with samples collected manually for certain laboratory tests, no significant analytical differences were reported.

These results were obtained with a specific system under specific research conditions and cannot be generalized to all robotic blood collection systems. The scientific information provided with the study also states that the research was funded by the manufacturer of the technology being evaluated.

Does Robotic Blood Collection Mean Less Pain for Patients?

One of the most common concerns people have about blood collection is pain. Another issue is the possibility of having to repeat the procedure if the first attempt is unsuccessful.

Patient experience was also investigated in the ADOPT study. Ninety percent of participants reported that the pain they experienced during the robotic procedure was less, much less, or similar compared with manual blood collection.

Eighty-two percent of participants stated that they would prefer the robotic method in the future or had no clear preference between the robotic and manual methods.

However, these findings do not mean that robotic blood collection is less painful for every patient. Pain can vary from person to person, and the patient experience findings reported in the study should not be directly generalized to different patient groups.

There is another important point that should be emphasized:

Robotic systems have not completely replaced healthcare professionals.

The FDA-authorized system requires supervision by a healthcare professional trained in phlebotomy. A model has been defined in which one healthcare professional may supervise up to three devices at the same time.

In addition, if the patient moves beyond certain predefined limits during the procedure, the system can automatically disengage the needle and stop the procedure. Other sensors can also stop the procedure and alert the supervising healthcare professional if an unsafe situation is detected.

 

 

So, Will Robots Replace Healthcare Professionals?

I do not think that is the main question.

The more important question is how robotic technologies can be used to allow healthcare professionals to devote more of their time to other healthcare services.

Blood collection is a repetitive procedure performed according to specific stages. For this reason, it has become one of the healthcare applications in which automation technologies are being explored.

In the future, it may be technically possible for multiple robotic systems to operate under the supervision of healthcare professionals in laboratory environments.

However, the extent to which these systems become widespread in healthcare services and the conditions under which they are used will depend not only on scientific evidence but also on regulatory processes, healthcare system needs, costs, and assessments related to patient safety.

Could Robotic Blood Collection Be Suitable for Every Patient?

No matter how advanced the technology becomes, it cannot be said that every new medical technology is suitable for every patient.

Vein anatomy, edema, movement, an individual's general health characteristics, and other medical factors that may affect the procedure can influence whether robotic systems can be used.

Indeed, in the published study, the system was unable to identify a suitable vein for automated needle insertion in approximately 6% of the individuals evaluated, and the procedure was not performed.

This is one of the findings that demonstrates the continuing importance of human assessment and healthcare professional supervision.

In addition, infection control, device cleaning, patient safety, data security, technical maintenance, and intervention in unexpected situations are also important considerations in the use of robotic healthcare technologies.

The Future of Medicine: Humans + Artificial Intelligence + Robots

I believe that one of the important changes we may see in healthcare services in the coming years will not be robots completely replacing doctors or other healthcare professionals, but rather the increasing use of technologies that support healthcare professionals in certain repetitive procedures.

A more realistic scenario may be the following:

The robot will perform certain procedures, artificial intelligence will help evaluate data, and the healthcare professional will supervise the system while focusing on the patient's needs.

AI-assisted robotic blood collection technology can be considered one of the current examples of this transformation.

Today, we are discussing the use of robotic systems for vein detection and blood collection.

How similar imaging, artificial intelligence, and robotic technologies may be used in the future for vascular access procedures or other interventional applications may continue to be a subject of scientific research.

Determining which procedures these technologies may eventually become routinely used for will require scientific studies, safety data, and regulatory processes to be evaluated together.

As technology advances in medicine, one point is likely to remain unchanged:

Technology may change the way procedures are performed, but communication with patients, trust, and the assessment of healthcare professionals will remain important.