Our area faces a high demand for blood. Close to 2,000 donations are needed each day in the New York/New Jersey community for patients who require a lifesaving blood and/or platelet transfusion. Those in need include: cancer patients, accident, burn or trauma victims, newborn babies and mothers delivering babies, transplant recipients, surgery patients, chronically transfused patients suffering from sickle cell disease or thalassemia, and many more.

Donating blood is a selfless act by one person to help save the lives of others. Blood cannot be manufactured. Whether you’re a regular or first-time donor, visiting one of New York Blood Center’s (NYBC) donor centers or community blood drives is a powerful way to make a difference.

Yes, if you are age 17 (16 with written consent from a parent or guardian) to 75* and weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and are in good health.

Visit our donor eligibility page for eligibility FAQs, which include common reasons and conditions that may permanently or temporarily defer someone from donor eligibility, but far more people are eligible to donate than actually do.

*People aged 76 and older can donate if they meet all donor eligibility requirements and present a physician’s note or are cleared by a NYBC medical doctor. You only need to show your physician’s note one time.

Yes. NYBC cannot take your donation without first seeing a form of identification with either your photo or your signature.

We suggest you allot 45 minutes to one hour to donate blood. Donating platelets or double red cells can take longer. The blood donation procedure itself takes about 10 to 12 minutes. But it also takes time to fill out the donor registration form, have a donor history/mini-medical exam, and rest and enjoy refreshments following a donation.

You will be asked to provide some basic information (name, address, birthdate, etc.) as well as answer a number of health history questions on a registration form. Then we measure your temperature, hemoglobin content, and blood pressure to determine your donor suitability.

Visit our Hemoglobin Education page to learn more about increasing your iron levels.

Most people feel fine. It’s important to rest and eat snacks in the recovery area, eat properly before your donation, and drink extra fluids for 48 hours following your donation.

All donated blood, even donations from repeat donors, is tested for blood type, hepatitis, HIV, syphilis, and other transmissible diseases. Blood may also be separated into various components (such as red cells, platelets, or plasma) so each donation may help several people.

No. You cannot get any transmissible disease or viruses, including HIV, by donating blood. The materials used for each donation (including the needle) are sterile, disposable, and used only on a single donor.

You can safely donate your whole blood every 8 weeks, automated red cells every 16 weeks, platelets every 7 days up to 24 times each year, and plasma every 28 days.

Yes there are several. Please read the restrictions or contact our medical team.

It depends on what the vaccination was for, and deferral times will vary. Please read the restrictions or contact our medical team to learn about a specific and/or recent vaccination.

The needle insertion feels like a little pinch—other than that, most donors feel no discomfort.

Yes. Most adults have between 8 to 12 pints of blood and can easily spare a pint. Volume is replaced within 24 hours and red cells are replaced within 4 to 8 weeks after donating.

No. All transfusions in the U.S. are thanks to 8 million volunteer blood donors nationwide. The demand for transfusions may increase as the population ages and more sophisticated medical care and surgeries requiring transfusion support become more commonplace.

Some rare red cells are frozen for emergency use, but thawing them is costly, requires special staff and equipment, and must be transfused within 24 hours after thawing—a fresh supply of blood is best.

No. Donated blood is perishable just like milk. Red cells last for 42 days, platelets last for 5 days, and plasma can be frozen for up to a year.

Some people have fewer antigens (proteins on their red blood cells) than others. Determining which of these proteins are absent from a person’s red blood cells involves blood typing beyond the more familiar A, B, AB, O and Rh factor. In addition to identifying rare blood types, we specially code these donated units so they can be easily found.

Indicating your race makes it easier to match your blood with a recipient. This is because blood types and antigens are inherited, just like eye and hair color. Searching for very precise transfusion matches can be like looking for a needle in a haystack, so it makes sense to begin with donors of the same ethnic or racial background as the transfusion recipient. Learn more about our PreciseMatch® program.

Nearly every donated pint of blood is transfused to a patient in need. A unit would not be transfused if it tested positive for certain infectious diseases or is needed for research.

New York Blood Center welcomes and encourages athletes to donate blood. Athletes are among the healthiest individuals in our communities, so they’re ideally suited to be blood donors. With simple planning, you can help save lives and still accomplish your athletic goals.

Will it affect my performance?

It depends upon you and the sport. For extreme endurance sports, such as distance running or cross-country skiing, it may take a month or more to regain full aerobic capacity after donating. For many other sports, you may only notice a difference for a week or two. We do not recommend donating blood on the same day as a vigorous practice or competition.

Stay hydrated

On the day of your donation, we suggest drinking at least eight glasses of hydrating fluids. Your body will more quickly replace lost fluids after donating blood if you are well hydrated.

Eat healthy

Eat a full, nutritious meal within four hours of your appointment and consider making iron-rich foods part of your daily diet.

Iron supplements

Iron is an essential element for most living things. Iron helps the body make new red blood cells, which is especially important after donating blood. When you donate red blood cells, some of your iron stores are also removed.

Eating a well-balanced diet is important for all blood donors, although eating iron-rich foods is unlikely to replace all the iron lost during a blood donation. Taking a daily multivitamin with iron or iron supplements is the best way to maintain a healthy iron level. Consult your physician or pharmacist to determine which supplement is right for you.

Take it easy. No, really!

We recommend that all blood donors avoid strenuous activity such as lifting, pushing, or picking up heavy objects for the rest of the day after donating. Some athletes choose to donate on a recovery day or in their off season. If you must practice after your donation, take it easy and drink plenty of fluids.

Personal benefits

Prior to your donation, you will receive a health screening that includes checking your blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and hemoglobin levels. Donating blood takes about an hour from arrival to departure—you can save lives and give back to your community with zero financial cost and just an hour out of your day!

How else can I help?

Some athletes may consider donating platelets to avoid a drop in hemoglobin or a temporary decrease in performance. When you donate platelets instead of whole blood, your red blood cells are returned to your body. Speak with a member of our team to learn more about donating platelets.