Donation Programs

Stanford Blood Center offers a variety of blood donation options. We hope you will be part of one or several. No matter which ones you choose, you are helping maintain the health of our community and we thank you!

Whole Blood Donation

Volunteer whole blood donation is the foundation of the Stanford Medical School Blood Center. To give blood, you must be between 17 and 74 years old ( individuals who are 75 or older may donate with your doctor's approval ), weigh at least 110 lbs., be in good health, and have eaten prior to donating.

From start to finish, giving blood consists of four easy steps that include the registration, medical history to verify your good health, the donation, and refreshments at the canteen while you rest for 15 minutes before resuming your normal activities. The entire process takes about one hour.

See Donation Process .

One donation can be divided into several components and thus assist several patients.

See What happens to my blood?

Make an appointment to give whole blood.

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Automated Blood Collection

Automated Blood Collection, sometimes called apheresis or ABC, is a special kind of blood donation. Instead of giving one pint of whole blood (as in a regular blood donation), an ABC donor gives only those components of the blood needed for patients that day.

Donors can give platelets, plasma, and red blood cells alone or in combination as long as her or she qualifies by size and blood count. Some donors can give two units of red blood cells at one donation. This is called a double red cell donation.

See Learn Your ABC's for more information and learn how you can be part of this special program.

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Autologous Donation

Giving blood for your own surgery.

Patients planning surgery or a medical procedure requiring blood transfusion may give blood for themselves by way of autologous (aw-TOL-o-gus) donation. The process begins with an order from the patient's physician, and medical eligibility is determined on an individual basis.

Autologous donors need not meet all the criteria for whole blood donation.

Appointments are made through the Office of Autologous and Designated Donations at 650-723-6667, following an order form the patient's physician.

Ask you doctor about giving blood for your surgery/medical procedure.

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Designated Donation

Patients may opt to have donors they select donate blood for them if they desire. Parents may also donate for their children.

Designated donors must meet standard donor requirements and blood type must be compatible with the patient.

For information on Designated Donations, please call 650-723-6667.

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Marrow Donation

Stanford Medical School Blood Center is a donor center for the National Marrow Donor Program. Donors between 18 and 60 years of age are first tested to determine their human leukocyte antigen (HLA) tissue type, and are then entered into the National Marrow Donor Program registry.

From May 1989 to April 2000, Stanford Blood Center has had 70 donors who have given bone marrow to unrelated patients in need of transplant. Their marrow was sent to Boston, Seattle, Detroit, Philadelphia and other cities where treatment centers are located.

Blood donors who would like to become a part of this program may contact Marrow Donor Coordinator Derek Leith, , or call 650-723-5532

For more information see Marrow Donation.

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Other Ways Of Giving

Directing Gifts

As part of Stanford University, The Stanford Medical School Blood Center is a non-profit, entirely self-funded entity. Memorial donations and gifts are tax deductible and may be designated to honor someone or be used in a specific way.

For more information, or to learn about specific opportunities for financial support, please call the Administration Office at 650-723-7994 or contact Sharon Branaman .

Volunteer Program

The Volunteer Program provides supplementary assistance to the professional and technical staff at the Blood Center. Volunteers work in functional areas of the Blood Center as well as helping to meet the psychological and physiological needs of the donors. Opportunities abound for personal and professional growth, and the chance to participate in worthwhile programs helping others.

See Volunteer for more information and a complete listing of volunteer opportunities or contact the Manager of Volunteers, Tessa Moore, .

Or you may call Tessa Moore at 650-723-6795 .

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