Author Archives for Stanford Blood Center

Nine Lives: A Blood Donor’s Odyssey Donating Around the South Bay

November 18, 2011 8:48 am Published by Comments Off on Nine Lives: A Blood Donor’s Odyssey Donating Around the South Bay

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By John Williams, Marketing Manager, Stanford Blood Center

Lisa Sanfilippo has donated blood in nine separate locations in the past five years. Such is her passion for continuing to help save lives by finding a Stanford Blood Center (SBC) blood drive or Center location wherever she happens to be when eligible to donate.


Tips & Tricks: Finding a Blood Drive Near You

November 16, 2011 2:36 pm Published by Comments Off on Tips & Tricks: Finding a Blood Drive Near You

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By Julie Ruel, Social Media Manager, Stanford Blood Center

Visiting a mobile blood drive is a convenient way for busy parents, students, and professionals to keep up with their routine of donating blood without having to travel too far. We come to you so you don't have to come to us! Accounting for about 55% of the total amount of blood we collect, our drives are hosted at college campuses, high schools, churches, and hundreds of companies in the Valley and up the Peninsula.


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Grateful Recipient

November 11, 2011 10:15 am Published by Comments Off on Grateful Recipient

By Dimone Gabler, recipient of blood products & champion of blood donors

I thought people who received blood either had surgery, a transfusion for a particular condition, or had been in a serious accident. I found out there are other reasons one might need blood. A few years ago, I thought I had a bad flu bug. After two to three days of not being able to keep anything down, my husband insisted I go to the doctor. I was so weak I was barely able to stand. After the doctor's examination, he sent me to the emergency room at Good Samaritan Hospital.


Laughter, It’s Good for the Heart

November 9, 2011 11:29 am Published by Comments Off on Laughter, It’s Good for the Heart

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By Julie Ruel, Social Media Manager, Stanford Blood Center

Being happy in life is a goal that many people across the globe have in common. So how is it then that we achieve happiness? Over the last decade or so, this has become a hot topic. Psychologists have plunged into the science of what brings people happiness and how to make it sustainable.


Sickle Cells

November 4, 2011 11:10 am Published by Comments Off on Sickle Cells

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By Billie Rubin, Hemoglobin's Catabolic Cousin, reporting from the labs of Stanford Blood Center

Sickle cells are abnormally shaped red blood cells (RBCs) caused by a mutation of the hemoglobin gene (Hgb S). Their less flexible, sickle-like shape leaves them unable to get through small capillaries, resulting in obstructed blood vessels in many organs. In addition, because of this sickle shape, the RBCs are sequestered and destroyed in the spleen at a faster rate than normal cells.


There’s Nothing Scarier Than a Blood Shortage

October 28, 2011 10:14 am Published by Comments Off on There’s Nothing Scarier Than a Blood Shortage

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By Julie Ruel, Social Media Manager, Stanford Blood Center

Each day, the recruitment team at Stanford Blood Center (SBC) works hard to help ensure we have blood products available to those in need. "We do this by connecting with donors and inviting them to return. It sounds simple enough, but the reality is that this mission takes time, strategy, and creativity," explains Karen Paganelli, recruitment manager at SBC. The hospitals' needs fluctuate from day to day and we must constantly keep on top of our inventory to make sure the right type is available at the right time for the right patient.


Rarest ABO Type – Bombay Phenotype

October 26, 2011 12:00 pm Published by Comments Off on Rarest ABO Type – Bombay Phenotype

By Billie Rubin, Hemoglobin's Catabolic Cousin, reporting from the labs of Stanford Blood Center

Just in case the excitement of the ABO blood group system was beginning to subside, there is one other very, very rare ABO type first described in India. It is known as the "Bombay phenotype" and on the surface it looks like a type O. It is found in one out of 10,000 people in India, and one in a million in Europe.


The Safe Blood Africa Project: Background

October 19, 2011 11:38 am Published by Comments Off on The Safe Blood Africa Project: Background

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By Amanda Baker, Communications Intern, Stanford Blood Center

Communities around the globe require a safe and plentiful blood supply, and the need for blood transfusions affects patients worldwide. With this in mind, Stanford Blood Center, along with Sacramento's BloodSource and Northern California Community Blood Center, is teaming up with the Safe Blood Africa Project to bring safe blood programs to Nigeria.


The B.E.S.T. Insights

October 14, 2011 11:55 am Published by Comments Off on The B.E.S.T. Insights

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By Julie Ruel, Social Media Manager, Stanford Blood Center

The marketing group at SBC recently had the privilege of working with a group of students at the Stanford Graduate School of Business studying brands and user experiences. The class, called B.E.S.T. (brands, experiences, and social technology), was given the task of observing consumers in a natural setting, evaluating their findings, then offering insights intended to help tighten the gap between what consumers need to make for a positive experience with a company, organization, etc. and what that brand offers.


Shark Antibodies

October 7, 2011 11:04 am Published by Comments Off on Shark Antibodies

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By Billie Rubin, Hemoglobin's Catabolic Cousin, reporting from the labs of Stanford Blood Center

It turns out that sharks are not just robust killers of the ocean but that they have robust immune systems, too. Who knew? They rarely fall prey to infections and are exceptionally resilient. According to studies at La Trobe University in Melbourne, their antibodies can attach themselves to human cancer cells and actually stop them from spreading. It may also be possible that their antibodies could be used to fight other conditions such as malaria or rheumatoid arthritis.