BloodBanker Joins Denver’s innovation ecosystem: GALVANIZE

A digital-startup company is making noise in Denver, Colorado as the newest “IT” thing when it comes to business and innovation.

Founded by entrepreneur Jim Deters, Galvanize is a 30,000 square-foot workspace that serves to nurture entrepreneurship through three main pillars: capital, community and curriculum. Many up and coming businessmen are afraid to venture into businesses because they lack funding and office space, but Galvanize takes care of those woes.

Galvanize supports a list of both Colorado-based startups as well as national branches and provide the needed tools for companies and individuals in the community to succeed. Galvanize will provide up to 70 small businesses access to a shared workspace, mentoring, investors and a software-programming school. These startups are expected to create exponential growth for employment in the future.

The best catch: it is near the heart of the city, offering Denver a combination of services not experienced at any single location.

 

Rockey Mountain Bank Note CompanyWorkspace is equipped with unlimited and high-speed Internet, phone booths, conference rooms and a game room- sweet! The They also have a coffee bar that keeps everyone galvanized (pardon the attempt in humor!).

The technology inside Galvanize stands in the walls of a historic landmark, the Rocky Mountain Bank Note Company. The building at 1062 Delaware St., Denver, Colorado, was where paychecks were printed and now it is a workspace and a business school (of sorts) and a place that serves delectable food and drink rolled into one. This building is a wide one and is designed to accommodate not only Galvanize entrepreneurs but also the public. Startups can have suites or just nooks assigned to them; the space is always there to meet your needs. The Atrium is where teams of 1 to 4 can be found interacting with other Galvanize fellows. As a team grows larger or the workspace they need would be bigger there is also the  G Suites. There is always a hum of activity, practically a meeting place for great minds!

Though still new in the community, Galvanize holds a promising future for entrepreneurs to meet up, work together and exchange brilliant ideas under one roof. With this unique and cool innovation ecosystem, BloodBanker is proud to be a part of Galvanize’s growing community and to be rubbing elbows with some of the city’s creative and bold minds.

Galvanize houses are ROXIMITY, Forkly,  GoSpotCheck, Uber, Ninety Plus, Knoll, Active Junky and BloodBanker.

"board of startups at Galvanize"

Galvanize Workspace Sharing for Startups

Thinking of putting a startup, too? Get Galvanized Now!

In Focus: Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center (GCRBC)

Donate blood at Gulf Coast Regional

Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center

Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center is an independent and non-profit organization that is accredited by Food & Drug Administration. The center was founded way back in January 1, 1975 and is a member of state authorities such as American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), America’s Blood Centers (ABC), Blood Centers of America (BCA), South Central Association of Blood Banks (SCABB) and Texas Medical Center (TMC).

There are more than 700 employees currently working at the blood center. For a center with a large work force, they are driven by their mission to make service available to the community. Serving the gulf coast states enable them to reach out, supply and serve more than 170 health care institutions that are located in Texas Gulf Coast, in Brazos Valley and in East Texas.

To be able to stop blood shortages in supply, The Blood Center has 17 branches opened around the state for every donor along the Gulf of Mexico. Each center involves itself in finding ways to promote visits to their donation drives and donate blood and blood products. For the past year (well on to this year), The Blood Center aim to collect more than 300,000 blood units. This goal will make sure that the area has enough blood to meet the needs of scheduled surgeries and operations as well as emergency or trauma cases. To be able to reach that goal, GRCBC needs a 1,000 donations every day to be able to succeed.

What to Donate:

The center mainly accepts donations in a form of whole blood, platelet, plasma and double red blood cells. About one pint of whole blood is asked for each session. Every whole blood donation is either used for direct transfusion or separated into different components.

In 1991, Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center became an accredited member for National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP). Since then, The Blood Center raises awareness on and recruit bone marrow donations from different races and ethnic groups.

Bone Marrow Donations:

To be a qualified bone marrow donor, you must be between 18 to 60 and in perfect good shape. Your weight requirement must be based on the results of your body mass index. Your weight in kilograms has to be divided by the square of your height in meters.

Similar to blood donation, you’re not a qualified blood donor if you’re diagnosed with blood diseases such as HIV, hepatitis and uncontrollable hypertension. If you have serious back problems, consider consulting your doctor.

Donation Pay:  None

Donate Blood at Gulf Coast Regional

Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center

Incentive Program:

You’ll receive incentives when you Commit for Life!

Commit for Life is a program that was launched in 2003. It’s primary objective is to create a partnership with loyal donors to give blood (about once per quarter).

You can earn points by being a member of Commit for Life. You’re given access to online scheduling and online store. If you’re a gold-level member, you’ll enjoy the perks of having a four-credit advance health check-up. You’ll receive updated newsletters and you can join raffles too.

Gulf Cost Regional also value the importance of education. Education is one of the important keys of a successful life.

For this, the center offers a number of research grants and scholarships to those professionals who want to lift their careers into the next level.

These professionals are given the chance to undergo thorough training in blood banking and its other related disciplines. There’s also an offer of 12-month online training program, in which you’re no longer required to report on-site.

Schedules & Donating Centers:

The Gulf Coast Regional has sixteen branches in the country. In the table below, you’ll be given the exact addresses as well as their operating hours every day. IMPORTANT: Contacting the center before visiting is fully appreciated.

Blood Centers  Address: Schedule:

Bill T. Teague Neighborhood Donor Center (Headquarters)

1400 La Concha Lane Houston, TX, 77054

Contact #:(713)791-6620

Sun: Closed

Mon – Thu: 10 AM – 6 PM

Fri – Sat: 8 AM – 4 PM

Baytown Neighborhood Donor Center

5010 Garth Road, Suite 210 Baytown, TX, 77521

Contact #:(281)421-2555

Sun: 8 AM – 4 PM

Mon – Thu:10 AM – 6 PM

Fri: 8 AM – 4 PM

Sat: Closed

Champions Neighborhood Donor Center

6935 FM 1960 W, Suite A Houston, TX 77069

Contact #:(281)440-5900

Sun: 8 AM – 4 PM

Mon – Thu: 10 AM – 6 PM

Fri: 8 AM – 4 PM

Sat: Closed

Clear Lake Neighborhood Donor Center

1153 Clear Lake City Boulevard Houston, TX 77062

Contact #:(281)447-0053

Sun: Closed

Mon – Thu: 10 AM – 6 PM

Fri – Sat: 8 AM – 4 PM

Conroe Neighborhood Donor Center

2125 N Loop 336 W Conroe, TX, 77304

Contact #:(936)760-4430

Sun: Closed

Mon – Thu: 10 AM – 6 PM

Fri: 8 AM – 4 PM

Sat: Closed

Cy-Fair Neighborhood Donor Center

11811 FM 1960 West Suite 120 Houston, TX 77065

Contact #:(281)469-1964

Sun: Closed

Mon – Thu: 10 AM – 6 PM

Fri – Sat: 8 AM – 4 PM

Humble/Kingwood Neighborhood Donor Center

9616 FM 1960 Bypass West Humble, TX 77338

Contact #:(281)446-5955

Sun: Closed

Mon – Thu: 10 AM – 6 PM

Fri – Sat: 8 AM – 4 PM

Katy Neighborhood Donor Center

1575 S. Grand Parkway, Suite 600 Katy, TX 77494

Contact #:(281)392-7902

Sun: Closed

Mon – Thu: 10 AM – 6 PM

Fri – Sat: 8 AM – 4 PM

Pasadena Neighborhood Donor Center

5124 Fairmont Parkway Pasadena, TX 77505

Contact #:(281)487-1055

Sun: Closed

Mon – Thu: 10 AM – 6 PM

Fri – Sat: 8 AM – 4 PM

Pearland Neighborhood Donor Center

9223 W Broadway St., Suite 119, Pearland, TX 77584

Contact #:(713)436-7722

Sun: 8 AM – 4 PM

Mon – Thu: 10 AM – 6 PM

Fri: 8 AM – 4 PM

Sat: Closed

Sugar Land Neighborhood Donor Center

4949 Sweetwater Boulevard Sugar Land TX, 77479

Contact #:(281)313-1122

Sun: 8 AM – 4 PM

Mon – Thu: 10 AM – 6 PM

Fri: 8 AM – 4 PM

Sat: Closed

Westchase Neighborhood Donor Center

10001 Westheimer Road, Suite 2117 Houston, TX 77042

Contact #:(832)242-7600

Sun: Closed

Mon – Thu: 10 AM – 6 PM

Fri – Sat: 8 AM – 4 PM

Woodlands Neighborhood Donor Center

3091 College Park Drive, Suite 130 The Woodlands, TX 77384

Contact #:(936)321-8440

Sun: Closed

Mon – Thu: 10 AM – 6 PM

Fri – Sat: 8 AM – 4 PM

Blood Center – East Texas

3520 North University Drive Nacogdoches, TX 75965

Contact #:(936)560-3054

Sun: Closed

Mon – Thu: 10 AM – 6 PM

Fri: 8 AM – 4 PM

Sat: 8 AM – 2 PM

Lufkin Neighborhood Donor Center

202 South Franklin St., Lufkin TX 75904

Contact #:(936)634-2116

Sun: Closed

Mon: Closed

Tue – Thu: 10 AM – 6 PM

Fri: 8 AM – 4 PM

Sat: 8 AM – 2 PM

Blood Center – Brazos Valley

1701 Rock Prairie Road, College Station, TX 77845

Contact #:(979)764-5600

Sun: Closed

Mon: Closed

Tue – Thu: 10 AM – 6 PM

Fri – Sat: 8 AM – 4 PM

Are you looking for some online maps and testimonials? We got that one covered and free of charge, simply visit this directory and you got it all there.

Source: Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center

In Focus: New York Blood Center

Give blood at New York Blood Center

New York Blood Center

New York Blood Center (NYBC) is one of the largest non-profit Food & Drug Administration-approved organizations in United States. It began its operations in 1964 in with the primary objective to collect, test and distribute blood components to over 200 hospitals. Back then the area NYBC covered was home to 22 million people in New York City, New Jersey, Hudson Valley, Long Island and selected areas in Pennsylvania and Connecticut.

In 1989, the NYBC started to collect bone marrow in 1989 with a registry of 200,000 donors listed. Their aim was to recruit over 230,000 potential bone marrow donors for surgeries, harvest and transplants. All qualified bone marrow donors are aged 18 to 60 years old, male or female and pass the test for compatible Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) markers.

The NYBC further expanded it’s services in 1992 when the National Cord Blood Program (NCBP) was opened. The program accepts cord blood donations from married couples who are expecting a baby. Records show that over 60,000 parents have already donated their newborn’s cord blood in NYBC-NCBP.

Donation percentages for cord blood since then are:

48% are Caucasian
21% are Hispanic-American
20% are African-American
8% are Asian-American

Donations Accepted:

Specific type blood components are donated in NYBC:  whole blood, plasma, red blood cell or platelet. A qualified donor weighs 110 pounds; from age 17 to 75 years old. Donors  must have no history of malignant diseases. As for all registries, NYBC requires donors to present a legal ID that shows the signature.

Able donors aged 16 need to present a consent form signed by the parent/ parents; having a parent or legal guardian would make verification and donation easier.

All donations can either be for personal use or donated as stock supply for hospitals or a particular patient.

Donation Pay: 0

Perks: You’ll be served with refreshments after donation process.

Schedules & Operating Hours:

New York Blood Center

Manhattan

 BLOOD DONATIONS  PLATELET DONATIONS

Citicorp

601 Lexington Avenue New York NY 100022 – Lower Level

Contact #: 800-933-2566

Monday

12:30 PM – 6:45 PM (Blood)

12:30 – 5:10 PM (Platelets)

Tuesday

8:00 AM – 2:15 PM

8:00 AM – 12:40 PM

Wednesday

12:30 PM – 6:45 PM

12:30 PM – 5:10 PM

Thursday

Closed

Closed

Friday

Closed

Closed

Saturday

8:00 AM – 2:15 PM

8:00 AM – 12:40 PM

Sunday

9:30 AM – 3:15 PM

9:00 AM – 1:40 PM

Met Life Donor Center

200 Park Avenue New York NY 10017 – Lobby Level

Contact #: 800-933-2566

Monday

7:30 AM – 1:45 PM

7:30 AM – 12:10 PM (Platelets)

Tuesday

12:30 PM – 6:45 PM

12:30 PM – 5:10 PM

Wednesday

Closed

Closed

Thursday

Closed

Closed

Friday

7:30 AM – 1:45 PM

7:30 AM – 12:10 PM

Saturday

Closed

Closed

Sunday

Closed

Closed

Port Authority

625 Eighth Avenue New York NY, 10018 – Main Floor

Contact #: 800-933-2566

Monday

12:30 PM – 6:45 PM (Blood)

Closed (Platelets)

Tuesday

12:30 PM – 6:45 PM

12:30 PM – 5:10 PM

Wednesday

12:30 PM – 6:45 PM

12:30 PM – 5:10 PM

Thursday

Closed

Closed

Friday

12:30 PM – 6:45 PM

12:30 PM – 5:10 PM

Saturday

Closed

Closed

Sunday

Closed

Closed

Upper East Side

310 East 67th Street New York, NY 10065 – Lobby

Contact #: 800-933-2566

Monday

8:30 AM – 2:45 PM (Blood)

Closed (Platelets)

Tuesday

12:00 PM – 6:15 PM

12:00 PM – 4:40 PM

Wednesday

8:00 AM – 2:15 PM

8:00 AM – 12:40 PM

Thursday

12:00 PM – 6:45 PM

12:00 PM – 4:40 PM

Friday

8:00 AM – 2:15 PM

8:00 AM – 12:40 PM

Saturday

7:30 AM – 2:15 PM

7:30 AM – 12:10 PM

Sunday

9:30 AM – 3:45 PM

9:30 – 2:10 PM

Staten Island

Pergament Mall Donor Center

2791 Richmond Avenue. Staten Island, NY 10314

Contact #: 800-933-2566

Monday

12:30 PM – 6:45 PM (Blood)

12:30 PM – 5:10 PM (Platelets)

Tuesday

Closed

Closed

Wednesday

9:30 AM – 3:45 PM

9:30 AM – 2:10 PM

Thursday

Closed

Closed

Friday

Closed

Closed

Saturday

8:30 AM – 3:15 PM

8:30 AM – 1:10 PM

Sunday (2nd & 4th)

8:30 AM – 3:15 PM

8:30 AM – 1:10 PM

Brooklyn

120 Lawrence Street, Brooklyn NY 11201

Contact #: 800-933-2566

Monday

12:30 PM – 6:45 PM (Blood)

12:30 PM – 5:10 PM (Platelets)

Tuesday

Closed

Closed

Wednesday

Closed

Closed

Thursday

8:30 AM – 2:45 PM

8:30 AM – 1:10 PM

Friday

Closed

Closed

Saturday

9:30 AM – 3:45 PM

9:30 AM – 2:10 PM

Sunday (1st, 3rd & 5th )

9:30 AM – 3:45 PM

9:30 AM – 2:10 PM

NYBB has also 6 branches in Long Island, 3 in New Jersey (in Middlesex, in Somerset and in Union) and 5 in Hudson Valley. If you’ll visit the NYBC website, you’ll see the exact map of each donor center, its locations as well as its driving directions.

For contact numbers and online maps, see this directory.

Source:

NYBloodCenter.org

In Focus: Community Blood Center Ohio

Give blood at Community Blood Center Ohio

Community Blood Center Ohio

Community Blood Center (CBC) is a non-for-profit organization that started its operation in September 1964. Its first headquarters was situated at the base camp in Fidelity Medical Building in Dayton, Ohio.

A year after its founding, the CBC already served all general hospitals in Dayton. In 1967, it decided to further extend its blood distribution services to 24 hospitals in 15 countries.

It was in 1994 when CBC changed its name to Community Tissue Services (CTS). For this, new branches were opened in 10 different cities. These cities are Fresno, Fort Worth, Portland, Medford, Indianapolis, Boise, Toledo, Memphis, Indiana and Connersville. From then onwards, the bank provided blood tissue services in more than 2,000 hospitals across the nation.

What to Donate:

Community Blood Center accepts whole blood donation, plasma, platelets and bone marrow. For whole and other blood components, qualifying donor should be 17 years old and in perfect health condition. Perfect health condition means you need to feel 100% before and during the day of donation.

You’ll surely pass the series of screening should you weigh at least 110 pounds. You must also present the CBC donor card with your photo upon arrival.

You’re only allowed to donate whole blood every 56 days. For plasma and platelet donation (apheresis), the recommended frequency is 28 days and once in seven days for platelets-respectively.

You’re permanently deferred as a donor should you’re sick with malignant diseases such as hepatitis, HIV, CJD and other blood diseases.

Anyone interest in donating but is just 16 years old is still allowed to donate as long as their parents sign the downloadable consent form. The form must be signed by the parents or court appointed guardian. Submit this to the assigned chairperson when you arrive at a blood drive.

Donation Pay: none

Schedules & Operating Hours:

Making appointments is important and all types of donors are encouraged to call the center before visiting. For contact numbers and online maps, see this directory.

All CBC branches are Food & Drug Administration-accredited and their laboratories have thoroughly passed the standards mandated by Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). The CBC is a member of American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) and their tissue banking services are accredited by American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB).

Therefore, rest assured that when you visit one of the branches listed below, everything that you need and expect are simply around you.

Map for Community Blood Centers in Ohio and Indiana

Community Blood Center Areas in Ohio

Community Blood Center

Community Blood Centers – Dayton

349 S. Main Street Dayton, OH 45402

Contact #: (937) 461-3450

Mon – Thu: 8 AM – 6 PM

Fri: 7 AM – 4 PM

Sat: 7 AM – 12 NN

Community Blood Center – Middletown

3990 Roosevelt Blvd., Suite C Middletown, OH 45044

Contact #: (513) 727-1995

Mon: Closed

Tue: 12 NN – 7 PM

Wed: 11:30 AM – 6:30PM

Thu: 2 – 6:30 PM

Fri: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Sat: Closed

Community Blood Center – Richmond

4450 Garwood Place Richmond, IN 47374

Contact #: (765) 962-6329

Mon: 2 – 6:30 PM

Tue: 8 AM – 4 PM

Wed: 11 AM – 6:30 PM

Thu: 2 PM – 6:30 PM

Fri: 8 AM – 4 PM

Sat: Closed

Community Blood Center – Springfield

2200 N. Limstone St. Suite 106 Springfield, OH 45503

Contact #: (937) 399-2611

Mon: 9 AM

Tue/Wed: 3 – 7 PM

Thu: 11 AM – 4 PM

Sat: Closed

Community Blood Center – West Chester

8731 Union Center Blvd. West Chester, OH 45069

Contact #: 537-6766

Mon: Closed

Tue: 10 AM – 7 PM

Wed: 8 AM – 5 PM

Thu: 3 – 7 PM

Fri: 7:30 AM – 4 PM

Sat: 7:30 AM – Noon

A lot of communities rely on donors to sustain the blood supply. When disaster strikes or an influx of unscheduled surgeries happen a dent in the stocks will mean lost lives. Which is why we are thankful that blood centers such as CBC exists. Blood centers play an important role in preserving a quality healthcare in Ohio and its nearby cities.

Source:

CBCCTS.org

In Focus: Central Blood Bank

Central Blood Bank (CBB) is a not-for-profit FDA-accredited organization that is responsible for the collection of blood units and for the delivery of transfusion products in more than forty hospitals in the Pittsburgh tri-state area. Founding CBB was inspired by the series of events that occurred during World War I when hundreds of people decided to give a pint of blood to save the wounded and the sick. The Pittsburgh Jaycess and four other physicians even established an organization to help the needs of the community.

The organization started with only 14-staff operation that served seven hospitals. Back then they collected, tested and stored 5,000 units of blood to serve these hospitals.

It has been 61 years and the CBB has grown to 330 employees in Pittsburgh tri-state area. The bank hired more employees to serve the 40 hospitals in the area; they now collect 170,000 units of blood annually which makes them the main distributor of quality blood products.

Years of experience in blood collecting, testing and distribution enabled CBB to develop the field of transfusion medicine. The organization established The Institute For Transfusion Medicine(sm)   that provides a coordinated approach to blood processing service for the community.      

CBB Service saves lives

CBB delivers blood products to be transfused sick individuals; like  Joey Folino.

Joey was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukeima (AML) in 2007 (centralbloodbank.org, 2012). With the help of CBB, Joey receives twenty transfusions of red blood cells and ten transfusions of platelets in Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. From the time he got out of the hospital, he still had to see his doctor three times a week before being pronounced 100% cured. Before Joey got sick he was into different kinds of sports, now that he had survived has gone back to playing for his teams.

What to Donate:

All eligible blood donors are allowed to donate: whole blood, plasma, double red blood cells and platelets. As long as you are 17 years old and above and weigh at least 110 pounds- the key to being allowed to donate is to eat healthy and to stay away from alcohol and drugs. Donors can donate every 56 days, as long as they pass the physical examinations and assessments. It’s also important that you’re not diagnosed with sexually-transmitted diseases such as HIV and hepatitis.

To save your time, you can make an appointment online and get a DonorPass. This is an online form that can complete days before your appointment. Just get the pass printed and hand it to the staff at the center or blood drives.

Every donor is a Volunteer Hero

Blood centers don’t pay donors, but they have a rewards program: the Brighten Life (BL) Reward Program. For every donation you make, you can get points and once you’ve gotten enough points you get gift card rewards. The gift cards can be from Starbucks, iTunes, Wal-Mart and Home Depot- depending on availability.

Schedules & Center Hours:

The CBB owns a total of 25 centers throughout the state. All centers collect whole blood donation and only a few collect other blood components (plasma, platelets and red blood cells); find out what donation you would want to make and get an appointments by calling 1-866-DONORS-1.

Donor Center

Address

Time of Operation for Whole Blood Donation

Armstrong Country Memorial Hospital Donor Center

Conference Room #1, 1 Nolte Drive Kittanning, PA

2nd Mon of the month:

12 noon – 7:00 PM

Beaver Donor Center

345 College Avenue, Beaver

Tue: 12 noon – 7 PM

Butler Donor Center

127 Oneida Valley Road Suite #206

Mon, Wed, Thurs: 12 noon – 7 PM

Sat: 7:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Cranberry Donor Center

20421 Route 19 Butler Center, 2nd Floor, Cranberry Township

Tue, Wed, Thurs: 12 noon – 7PM

Sat: 7:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Crawford Country Donor Center

Community Center, 1034 Park Avenue Meadville

Sun: 11 AM – 3:00 PM

Mon: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Downtown Pittsburgh Donor Center

Law & Finance Building, 429 4th Avenue Pittsburgh, PA

Tue, Thurs: 12 noon – 7 PM

Fox Chapel Donor Center

1378 Freeport Road Suites 1A & 1B

Tue: 12 noon – 7 PM

Fri & Sat: 7:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Franklin Donor Center

Knights of Columbus, 1436 Liberty Street

1st Thursday of the month: 3:00 – 7:00 PM

Green Tree CDC Donor Center

Five Parkway Center, 875 Greentree Road

Wed & Thurs: 12 – 7 PM

Tue & Fri: 7:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Greensburg Donor Center

6044 State Route, 30 Suite, 300 Greensburg

Tue: 12 – 7 PM

Thurs: 7 AM – 12 PM

Sat: 7:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Greenville Donor Center

100 Hadley Road, Suite #2

Wed: 12 – 7 Pm

Sat: 7 AM – 2 PM

Groove City Donor Center

12 Pine Groove Village Drive Shopping Center

Tue & Thu: 12 noon – 7 PM

Jameson Health System – South Donor Center

Jameson Hospital, 1000 South Mercer St. New Castle

Tue: 3:00 – 7:00 PM

Kittanning Donor Center

West Kittanning Fire Dept, 401 Arthur St.

4th Sun of the month: 12 noon – 7 PM

Monroeville Donor Center

4075 Monroeville Boulevard Monroeville

Tue, Wed, Thurs: 12 noon – 7:00 PM

Moon Township Donor Center

Edgetowne Square, 1005 Beaver Grade Road Coraopolis

Mon, Tue, Wed: 12 noon – 7:00 PM

Sat: 7:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Natrona Heights Donor Center

Heights Plaza, 1703 Union Avenue

Tue & Thurs: 12 noon – 7 PM

Oil City Donor Center

Elks Lodge – Dining Hall, 111 Sycamore St.

2nd Thu of the month: 3:00 – 7:00 PM

Peters Township Donor Center

Center Presbyterian Church, 255 Center Church Road McMurray

Thurs: 12:30 – 7:00 PM

Sat: 7:30 AM – 2:30 PM

South Hills Donor Center

The Manor Building, 4701 Baptist Road

Mon & Tue: 12noon– 7:00 PM

Fri & Sat: 7:30 AM – 2:30 PM

St. Clair Hospital Donor Center

1000 Bower Hill Road, 2nd Floor behind the cafeteria, Conference center 2

Fri, Sat. & Sun: 7:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Washington Donor Center

Jefferson Court Plaza, 124 West Chestnut St.

Tue & Thurs: 12nn – 7:00 PM

Wed: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Sat: 7:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Weirton Donor Center

St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 300 Three Springs Drive

Mon: 1:00 – 6:15 PM

Wheeling Donor Center

Wheeling Hospital Clinic, 16th St. 2nd Floor, Wheeling

2nd & 4th Tue of the month: 2:00 – 6:00 PM

 

Source:

CentralBloodBank.org

In Focus: Scantibodies Biologics Inc.

Address:

1068 Broadway (between Anza St & 1st St) El Cajon, CA 92021 Neighborhood: Bostonia
Phone: (619) 440-0283

What is Scantibodies?

Scantibodies Biologics Inc. is a new collection center inaugurated in July 2011. This two-story art facility is located in El Cajon. As of the writing, Janette Nolasco is the company’s manager while Shannon Coates is their donor recruiter.

Appointments are necessary and must be done by contacting the company by phone.

What are their goals?

The mission of the center is to help patients by finding better cure for malignant diseases such as E.Coli and MRSA-staph infection. The collected plasma will be brought to a laboratory and is tested for infection, bacteria and viruses. After screening, plasma is used an important component in manufacturing medicines and vaccination that treats blood disorders such as hemophilia.

Who can sell plasma?

Plasmapheresis is the process of collecting plasma that is performed by a professional phlebotomist. A phlebotomist inserts a needle in your arm and your blood will run through an apheresis machine that separates plasma from other blood components. The actual procedure will last for 45 minutes and only visitors who belong in the following category are allowed to undergo the process.

1) Those who are physically healthy. Healthy does mean the absence of any life-threatening disease.

2) Those who are at least eighteen years old and weighs 110 pounds. Underweight or obese people might be deferred.

3) Those who can provide valid identification and proof of residency.

4) Those who are not listed on National Donor Deferral Registry.

How much does the center pay?

As the company’s way of saying “thank you,” you are financially compensated after each procedure. You’ll receive $50 per session but it can earn up to $440 if you’ll make a sell eight times per month. Those who make referrals will receive bonuses.

Statement of Accounts: The center has not yet released an official account of finances.

Source: Scantibodies Biologics, Inc

In Focus: San Diego Blood Bank

Address:

3636 Gateway Center Ave # 100, San Diego, CA
Phone: (619) 296-6393

12640 Sabre Springs Pkwy # 109, San Diego, CA
Phone: (858) 668-0835

776 Arnele Avenue El Cajon, CA
Phone: (619) 441-1804

What is San Diego Blood Bank?

San Diego Blood Bank (SDBB), which is a member of American Association of Blood banks (AABB) and America’s Blood Center (ABC), operates as an independent center famously known for its quality service to community. It delivers blood and blood components to 50 hospitals in South California. The center has formed long lasting partnerships with various organizations such San Diego Padres, San Diego Chargers, SeaWorld, Qualcomm, Sempra Energy, San Diego Zoo, NBC 7/39, Baro Casino, Viejas Enterprises, Leukemia Society and local radio stations.

Hours of operation is between 8 am to 4 pm on Sundays and Mondays; 10 am to 6 pm on Tuesdays; and 8 am to 4 pm on Wednesdays until Saturdays. It’s encouraged to all donors to make an appointment. They are given more priority. All walk-ins are still welcomed.

What are their goals?

The goal of the center focuses on saving lives with the use of quality blood services. The staff also wants to maintain good relationship with different organizations within the community.

Who can donate blood?

Apart from the most ordinary type of donation which is whole blood collection, the donation comes in three types. The first is the double red cell. The collection procedure is performed through automation. Like plasmapheresis in which the only component that is removed from your system is plasma, collecting red blood cells requires the use of a machine that separates RBC from other components.

Donors who choose to donate red blood cells are eligible every 16 weeks.

Platelets are blood components that control bleeding. Those people who need surgery and radiation treatment are in need of platelet transfusion to survive.

The platelet apheresis, which usually lasts for 73 minutes, is also done with the use of machine that separates a blood component from the other. However, the SDBB makes sure donors will not get bored as the collection area is equipped with DVD player and TV.

It’s also allowed to donate plasma. Plasma is an important component of blood that carries clotting factors and proteins. Plasma is used to manufacture vaccinations that contain Immunoglobulins. Plasma donors are eligible for donation every four weeks.

Anyone who belongs in the following considerations are qualified for blood donation. Anyone who is diagnosed with malignant diseases (STD, blood diseases, cancers) is deferred for a specific number of time:

1) Those who generally feel healthy, especially at the day of donation.

2) Those who weighs at least 110 pounds. Underweight and overweight donors might fail the health exams.

3) Those 17 years in age until 85. Those donors under 17 are required to obtain a written consent.

4) Those who can bring valid identifications with photo, such as birth certificate, proof of permanent address and company ID.

Statement of Accounts

The San Diego Blood Bank released its 2011 financial accounts and it revealed a decrease in revenue ($41,244,702) from $45,286,032 in 2010. The bank makes earnings with the processing fees, blood services and contributions.

For more blood banks in San Diego, use this directory.

Source: San Diego Blood Bank

In Focus: Life Sera Inc.

Address:

1732 Fremont St Las Vegas NV, 89101
Phone: (702)385-7337

What is Life Sera?

Life Sera Inc. is a plasma collection center and a former subsidiary of two large companies – Octapharma AG and Life Therapeutics Ltd. The Life Therapeutics Limited is a biotechnology company and it’s popularly known for its therapeutic hyperimmune products that are made available in Australia and in United States. The company operates in four divisions: Life BioProcess ,Life Gels, Life Diagnostics and Life Sera.

Life Sera is its collecting center of plasma for over thirty years. The collection center offers plasma products, laboratory services and red cell immunization program. The plasma collection centers are also located in Alabama, California, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina and Utah.

What are their goals?

Life Sera aims to be the leader of high-quality products made of human plasma. The center also wants to develop a donor recruitment and management system that manufacture life-saving therapies.

Who can sell plasma?

Plasmapheresis is the term to describe a process of collecting plasma. The procedure lasts for more two hours due to registration and a series of physical examinations conducted by a physician. Should you pass the test, you’ll be asked to proceed in the collecting area in which a registered phlebotomist performs a venipuncture. The apheresis machine will be turned on and the process of separating your whole blood starts.

Only the yellow component or plasma enters the collection bag. The other components such as red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets are returned to your system. After the actual procedure, you’ll be rewarded with cash.

Not everyone are qualified to undergo this process. Some people are deferred due to health reasons. That’s why; you need to have the criteria as listed below:

1) Anyone who weighs 110 pounds and feels healthy during donation day.

2) Anyone who is eighteen years of age and above. If under eighteen are allowed to sell plasma, a written consent signed by parents or guardian must be obtained.

3) Anyone who is not diagnosed with sex-related diseases such as HIV and hepatitis.

Statement of Accounts: No financial records are shown.

For the exact location of Life Sera in Las Vegas, here’s a map.

In Focus: PlasmaCare

Address:

2522 West State Street  Milwaukee, WI 53233
Phone: (414) 344-2100

What is PlasmaCare?

PlasmaCare is a commercial and one of the oldest plasma collection companies in the country. Dr. Austin Stough began the company in 1960 during his initial investigatory research for Cutter Laboratories (known as Bayer today).  Its branch in Birmingham, Alabama was inaugurated in 1968.

Grifols purchased PlasmaCare in March 2006 to ensure its production capacity needs were met. The company’s name was officially changed to PlasmaCare, Inc. in January 1, 2007. Grifols manages more than seventy plasma centers as of the moment.

Hours of operation is between 7 am – 6 pm on Monday, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Wednesdays have special business hours and it’s between 8 am – 6 pm. During weekends, office hours begin at 7 am and ends at 4 pm on Saturdays. On Sundays, the opening time is 8 am and closing time is 4 pm. Appointment is required especially when it’s your first visit.

What are their goals?

The collection centers aim to improve in areas that focuses on quality, safety and business growth. The company makes sure its leadership teams will be the core to the company’s success and all its engineering process will follow the guidelines mandated by Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Who can sell plasma?

Every session of plasmapheresis begins with registration. When you’re a regular customer, the registration process might not be needed and you’ll proceed in examination area. The actual procedure of collecting plasma usually lasts for an hour. Here, an automated device is used to separate the yellow component (which is the plasma) from your red blood cells, while blood cells and platelets. Only plasma enters the storage bag while the other components of your blood are safely returned to you.

Not everyone has the ability to sell plasma. You need to belong in the criteria listed below:

1) Those who are between 18 – 65 years of age.
2) Those who weigh at least 110 pounds and in good health.
3) Those who can provide valid identification with photo. First time visitors are required to present a proof of address.
4) Those who can present the Social Security number.
5) Those who only live within the marketing radius. If you’re unsure about this matter, it’s suggested to call your local center.

How much does the center pay?

New customers will be paid $25 after his first plasmapheresis. For the first four qualified sellers, they can earn up to $130. By joining their special programs, you can earn special rewards.

Statement of Accounts

The parent company released its 2011 statement of accounts and it revealed an increase of 7.7% in sales or 2,300 million euros. Sixty percent of its pro-forma1 sales were earned in US and Canada while the 26% and 14% were earned in Europe and South America/Asia, respectively.

Source: PlasmaCare

In Focus: BloodCenter of Wisconsin

Address:

638 North 18th Street  Milwaukee, WI 53233
Phone: (877) 232-4376

What is BCW?

BloodCenter of Wisconsin (BCW) is a private not-for-profit organization that offers specialization in diagnostic testing, medical services and clinical research. Its primary responsibility is to collect and distribute life-saving blood and marrow in sixty affiliated hospitals and twenty-nine countries in the state.

Operation hours begins at 10:30 am until 5 pm on Mondays and Tuesdays; 6:30 am until 1pm on Fridays and Saturdays; No services on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Making appointment is required and is given high-priority.

What are their goals?

BCW, not tied with American Red Cross, strives hard to create innovative concepts and solutions for the company. It wishes to exceed expectations of its regular donors and customers.

The company values the worth of integrity, excellence, respect, learning, innovation and service. The staff and volunteers are committed to the observation of quality culture and excellence in their operations.

Who can donate blood?

Donations are done in three types -the whole blood donation, the apheresis and the autologous. The simplest and fastest procedure is whole blood donation. The entire session will last an hour but the actual collection to which the blood enters a collection bag only lasts for five to ten minutes. Whole blood donors are needed on a regular basis. Their donation is either used for transfusions or it is separated into components to manufacture medicines for blood disorders.

The apheresis donation refers to the process of using a machine to separate a whole blood into its components. You can choose to give plasma, platelets or double red blood cells. During the process, only the specified component enters the collection bag while the other components are returned to you. All blood types are encouraged to donate as the demand for it remains high.

If you’re born with unique antigens, your doctor will recommend you to undergo autologous donation before your scheduled surgery. The purpose of this procedure is to preserve your blood in a safe storage for a limited number of days. The blood will be returned to you immediately after the operation.

The following are the specific criteria of a qualified blood donor:

1) Those who are seventeen years old. Parental consent will be required for donors who are sixteen years old.

2) Those who can present legal identification with photo and birth date.

3) Those who are not sick with cold, flu and other allergy symptoms, especially on donation day.

4) Those who are not diagnosed with hepatitis after eleven years old.

5) Those who are not diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and other sex-related diseases. The deferral period for these diseases is decided by the center that is based on the guidelines released by higher institutions.

Statement of Accounts

The collection company released its official statement of accounts in years 2008, 2009 and 2010. Their revenue was consistently increasing in these periods $126,928, $127,287 and $141,545 respectively. As for the expenses, its expenses clocks at $129,989 in 2010 (the highest in those years).

For more blood banks in Milwaukee, use this directory.

Source: BloodCenter of Wisconsin