Can I give blood or volunteer with the blood drive during work hours?
According to the Benefits Booklet for EPA and SPA employees published by Human Resources, "employees are encouraged to participate in blood and bone marrow donorship. Participating employees shall be given reasonable time off with pay for whole blood donation, pheresis procedures, and for bone marrow transplant." With pre-approval by your supervisor, volunteering to work at a blood drive should count as part of an NCSU employee's 24 hours per year of paid community service leave. Any questions should be directed to Human Resources.

As a blood donor, will I have to pay for blood if I ever need a transfusion?
Although people voluntarily donate their blood through Red Cross, there are still tremendous processing costs associated with collecting, testing and distributing blood. To recover these processing costs, the Red Cross, which operates on a not-for-profit basis, charges a reimbursement fee. The hospitals also incur operating costs for cross-matching and transfusing Hood and Mood products. These costs appear on your hospital bill and are covered by most medical insurance plans.

What are the operating costs involved in collecting blood?
Each bloodmobile visit must have paid staff to transport, set up equipment, screen donors, and collect the blood at each location. The blood collection bag (which includes satellite bags for component processing) may be a double, triple, of quadruple bag, which costs from $5 - $10. Testing to ensure safety in the blood supply is another necessary expense, as is maintaining confidential donor records and operating a computerized inventory management system. Supplying special shipments of blood to hospitals incurs more costs.

What kind of testing and processing does my blood donation undergo?
When blood is collected, small amounts are drawn into test tubes. These samples are used to perform required tests on each blood donation. At least 10 tests are performed on each donated unit to ensure quality and safety of the blood supply. Blood grouping instruments perform ABO grouping and Rh typing. The test results are interpreted by computer and confirmed by blood center laboratory staff. Each unit is tested for red cell antibodies, antibodies to hepatitis viruses, syphilis, antibodies to HIV (viruses associated with AIDS), HIV antigen and antibody to HTLV-I (a very rare retrovirus) Units with unusual test results are discarded and samples are submitted for further testing. Blood may be shipped as whole blood, or more routinely, as specific components of blood that a patient needs. About 98 percent of all donations are separated into specific components: red cells, platelets, fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate (anti-hemophilic factor). Laboratories in either Charlotte and or Durham process each blood donation. Red Cross also maintains an HLA (Human Leuko-cyte Antigen) laboratory which types and matches donors to patients when special platelet or white cell products are required. Patients with leukemia or other forms of cancer often require these special services.

Why do people need blood?
There is absolutely no substitute for human blood! In hospitals across our region, patients receive lifesaving blood and blood products almost every minute of every day. Here's a list of some typical surgeries and the amount of blood that might be needed:

For more information about the American Red Cross
blood services or to find out where you can give
blood, contact your local Red Cross chapter, or the
region's headquarters in Charlotte:

American Red Cross
Carolina Blood Services Region
PO Box 36507
Charlotte, NC 28236
(704) 376-1661 or call 1-800 GIVE LIFE