Journey of Blood

Step 1: Register & Screening

• A OneBlood team member will register you into the system. You will be asked to provide your name, address, phone number and email.
• You will need to provide a form of picture identification such as a driver’s license or two other forms of identification.
• You will be asked to complete a short health history questionnaire.
• You will receive a mini-physical consisting of blood pressure, temperature, pulse and iron check.

Step 2: The Donation

• The phlebotomist will clean an area of your arm and insert a new, sterile needle to draw your blood. You may feel a quick minor pinch that lasts for just a few seconds.
• Before the donation begins, the phlebotomist will collect several small test tubes of your blood. This process will only take a few minutes.
• Once the test tube samples are drawn, the actual blood donation process begins.
  • If you are donating whole blood the process will take about 10 minutes.
  • If you are donating platelets, double red blood cells or plasma by apheresis the collection can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the donation method.
• Once you are done donating you will enjoy a light snack and have some water or juice before leaving.

Step 3: Processing & Testing

• Once you are done donating, your blood will move on to our Biologics/Manufacturing team where your donation will be prepared.
• At the same time your donation is being prepared, the test tubes are sent to our state-of-the-art testing facility in St. Petersburg, Florida where more than a dozen different tests will be performed to ensure the blood is safe for transfusion. Click here to see our testing facility. Your blood type is also determined.
• Test results are communicated back to the manufacturing facility electronically within 24 hours of your donation.
• If a positive test result is detected, the unit is discarded and the donor is informed.
• If the test results are negative, the unit is labeled and prepared for distribution to a hospital.

Step 4: Storage

• Units suitable for transfusion are labeled and stored
  • Red Cells are placed in refrigerators at 6 degrees C and can be stored for up to 42 days
  • Platelets are kept at room temperature in agitators and can be stored for up to five days
  • Plasma is frozen and kept in freezers and can be stored for up to one year
• In most cases, blood donated today will be transfused within two to three days of donation. The turnaround is that fast, the need is constant.

Step 5: Distribution

• The need for blood never stops. Our team of couriers works around-the-clock delivering blood to hospitals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.