What is a Community Blood Bank?

Community blood banks concentrate on fulfilling the blood needs of a single region. Often as a result of this locally-driven operation, donation rates rise among the area population and costs decrease on the part of area purchasers. Community blood banks are neighbors helping neighbors, and nearly 50% of the US blood supply is a result of these programs.

Why donate Blood?

By donating blood through Upstate New York Transplant Services, you will be helping your family, friends and neighbors – right here in Western New York.

Donated blood is the only source for those who need it. Despite amazing discoveries and breakthroughs in medical research, there is no substitute for the contents and functions human blood provides. Odds are 1 in 3 that you will need blood during your lifetime but only 1 in 33 that you are a regular blood donor.

We will need over 1,000 donors each and every week just to keep up with everyday normal blood usage in our region. We will save the hospitals we supply millions of dollars in related blood costs. This money can be used for patient care, doctors, nurses and all other things hospitals need to provide to the region. Donating blood is fast, easy and virtually pain-free. Thousands of people donate numerous times during the year and with less than an hour of their time, thousands of lives are saved and bettered.

Who will my blood help?

Patients in need of blood throughout Western New York

Accident victims who have suffered massive blood loss need transfusions of 50 pints or more of red blood cells

The average bone marrow transplant requires 120 units of platelets and about 20 units of red blood cells

Severe burn victims can need about 20 units of plasma during their treatment

Children being treated for cancer, premature infants and children having surgery need blood and platelets from donors of all types

Why Blood Services?

In 2005, Upstate New York Transplant Services was approached by the Western New York Purchasing Alliance under the premise that local hospitals long had been seeking an alternative with regard to blood purchasing. A subsequent feasibility found that a community blood bank operated through Upstate New York Transplant Services was the best alternative.

The transition is natural – Upstate New York Transplant Services has routinely secured higher rates of organ, tissue and eye donation than the national average, and the organization is poised to broaden this success in doing the same with blood. In addition, Upstate New York Transplant Services already has an on-site Histocompatibility lab which will be able to incorporate added testing as a result of blood donations.

Upstate New York Transplant Services Community Blood Services will…

Keep all donated blood within Western New York – for local patients at local hospitals

Work diligently to transfer success in organ, tissue and eye donation to blood donation. Currently, Upstate New York Transplant Services is undergoing a three-year campaign to double the number of organ, tissue and eye donors in the region. This effort will partner well with blood donor recruitment.

Add local jobs throughout Western New York.

Decrease the cost of blood to area hospitals by as much as 30% yearly by collecting, processing and distributing locally.

Safety First and Foremost

Advances in medical knowledge and technology make giving blood safe. Potential donors are thoroughly screened and given a physical examination. This involves completing a health history form and having a member of the collection team check your pulse, blood pressure, temperature and hemoglobin level. Materials used in blood collection are sterile and never re-used.

Blood donations are extensively tested. All testing is regulated by the FDA. Blood that does not pass testing is disposed of in a special biohazard waste container. To further ensure the safety of the blood supply, Upstate New York Transplant Services Community Blood Service will be routinely audited by the Food and Drug Administration. Upstate New York Transplant Services Community Blood Service will operate initially under a FDA permit granted to The Community Blood Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania.

When and where you need us…

Through mobile collections throughout Erie, Niagara and Wyoming counties, Upstate New York Transplant Services Community Blood Service is committed to visiting highly visible high traffic areas to make donating blood in Western New York as convenient as possible. Whether it be blood drives at high schools, universities, businesses, community organizations, and hospitals, Upstate New York Transplant Services Community Blood Service will bring the opportunity to you.