Autologous Blood Donation
 
Autologous blood donation is a method by which an individual may donate his or her own blood to be stored and used for transfusion at a future date. Evaluation of the patient by his or her physician is required prior to autologous blood donation. Autologous donations are permitted once a week over a five-week period if the patient is on any iron supplement and hemoglobin levels are adequate. Freezing autologous blood is available when medically indicated. Consult one of NYBC's Regional Medical Director and NYBC's Frozen Blood Laboratory for more information. Autologous blood donations require special handling for which a fee is charged to cover the cost of this service. Five working days are needed to test, process and ship the blood to the patient's hospital.

Directed Blood Donation

Directed blood donation is a method by which blood donors are selected by the patient who is scheduled to receive a transfusion. Directed donors are generally recruited for scheduled surgical procedures, premature infants, infants and other procedures. Directed blood donations can be used for virtually any non-emergency transfusion. There is no evidence that blood from donors selected by patients is safer than blood from the volunteer blood supply.

Directed blood donations require special handling. To cover the cost of this special handling, fees are collected for each unit drawn. NYBC requires a physician's order/prescription to receive this service.

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For information on Autologous and Directed donations or to schedule a donation please call 1-800-439-6876. Donations must be scheduled ahead of time; please no walk-ins.