Did you know…?

About every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood.

That means, this many people have needed blood since you arrived here:

Today’s Blood Need

Click a blood type or product below to learn more. Those in red indicate an increased need today.

If you’ve received the Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine for COVID-19, you are still eligible to donate blood! Additionally, please note that SBC requires ALL donors to be masked throughout the donation process, including while waiting outside of a mobile/bus blood drive. Learn more at stanfordbloodcenter.org/donation-faqs.

Blood Donation: How It Works

Before your appointment:

Always be sure to drink plenty of water before donating blood!
Eat an iron-rich meal. Eating enough iron is essential to ensuring that your hemoglobin level is right for donating. You can check out some tips on getting enough iron here.
Bring your donor ID. If you have a donor ID, be sure to bring it with you to your appointment. First-time donors or returning donors without a donor ID card should bring a valid state-issued photo identification.

Avoid alcohol and fatty foods for 24 hours, and aspirin (if donating platelets) for 48 hours, before your donation.

Learn More About Eligibility

The Donation Process

Congratulations, you made an appointment to donate blood and save lives! So what happens now? There are four basic steps to every blood donation:

Registration
Medical History
Donation
Rest & Refreshments

Learn More

After your blood donation:

Always be sure to drink plenty of water to rehydrate.
Sit down or lie down if you feel lightheaded or dizzy. Call our post-donation callback line at (650) 725-9968 if you feel unwell.
Rest and replenish iron. We recommend you take an iron supplement and/or eat foods rich in iron combined with a source of vitamin C after your donation.

Avoid alcoholic beverages and vigorous exercise for at least 24 hours after donating, and be sure to keep that bandage on for a few hours!

Please call our post-donation callback line at (650) 725-9968 immediately if you:

feel that your blood should not be given to a patient;
are not sure that your blood is safe;
develop a fever within 24 hours after donating;
have any illness within two weeks of your donation; or
are diagnosed by a physician as having West Nile, dengue, chikungunya, Zika, or Ebola virus Infection.

HEMOBLOGIN: THE SBC BLOG

Stan Jensen: Reflecting On 600 Donations

Here at SBC, we love to celebrate our incredible milestone donors and the impact they’ve had on helping support patients in our community. Stan Jensen recently made his 600th donation at our Menlo Park center. Ross Coyle, Public Relations Officer, interviewed the Pacifica resident about what inspires him to donate blood and what keeps him coming…

In Memory of Midge Zylker

Jan. 31, 1947–Nov. 13, 2021 Stanford Blood Center (SBC) is honoring the legacy of an incredible member of our community, Midge Zylker, who passed away late last year. Midge was Blood Drive Coordinator for the Rose Garden Community Blood Drives, and was instrumental in establishing the Willow Glen Community Blood Drive and the Zanotto’s…

Brian Smith: Reflecting on 600 Donations

Here at SBC, we love to celebrate our incredible milestone donors and the impact they’ve had on helping support patients in our community. Brian Smith recently made his 600th donation. Ross Coyle, Public Relations Officer, interviewed the Mountain View resident about what inspires him to donate blood and what keeps him coming back all these years….