As a Stanford Blood Center donor, each time you donate, you could potentially save a life… it could be someone with cancer, a trauma victim, or even someone with a rare bleeding disorder. March is National Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month,...
You may have seen messaging earlier this month letting you know that Stanford Blood Center (SBC) was in critical need of O-negative blood products and platelets. If you are an O- blood donor or a platelet donor, you may have...
Most of you probably know that when you donate blood products, they test for your blood type (A-positive, O-negative, etc.). But you might not know that when you donate platelets, they test for an additional type — your HLA type....
2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the first blood bank, created by Oswald Hope Robertson – a development that has saved countless lives. While transfusions had previously been performed by direct artery-to-view or indirect syringe techniques, Robertson was able to...
In times of tragedy, the true spirit of a community is often revealed. In the wake of the October 1 shooting in Las Vegas, the entire Stanford Community pulled together in a display of inspiring collaboration and genuine heart. While...
If you’re a vegan, or even a vegetarian, you’re probably used to tailoring your diet to make sure you get all the right nutrients you need. But if you are a vegan or vegetarian blood donor, you may have to...
If you’ve been a donor with Stanford Blood Center (SBC) for more than a year, you may recall that in May 2016, based on FDA recommendations, we implemented a new, higher hemoglobin requirement for men. The change required men to...
As the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey continues in Houston, Texas, people across the country are looking for ways they can help. While the Stanford Community may seem a world away from Houston right now, there is actually plenty you...
Our donors generously give their time and blood to help save lives, so it’s no surprise that they care about health. As such, we often encounter questions about donating blood and running (particularly donating while training for a race like...
Welcome back! As discussed in last week’s blog, Platelet Donation 101, women who have been previously pregnant are discouraged from donating platelets and plasma to reduce risk of TRALI. But what exactly is TRALI, and what does pregnancy have to...