• Blood Bank
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• Frequently Asked Questions

CHOC Children’s relies on volunteer blood donors like you, your friends, neighbors and co-workers to meet the needs of our patients. Every time our volunteers donate, they leave knowing they are having direct impact on the recovery of a child. Your blood donation gives children a better chance at a healthy life.

With the support of our community we have been able to supply 50 percent of our patients’ needs for blood transfusions, a percentage that we would love to increase. Donor recruitment is always challenging and we want to assure our blood and platelet inventory remains robust. Please call the Blood Donor Center at 714- 509-8339 to make an appointment. Walk-ins are always welcome.

Donate Platelets

Platelets are the component of your blood that help form clots and stop bleeding. Our children that have cancer, aplastic anemia and blood disorders especially benefit from platelets. Chemotherapy and radiation often times kills cancer and healthy cells and platelet transfusion greatly improve the outcome of our children. Platelet donations take longer then whole blood donations but this allows our donors time to relax and watch a movie or read a book.

Coordinate a Blood Drive

Coordinating a blood drive is one of the best ways to support your community. Get together with your friends, work, school, church, service organization or anyone else and we will reserve time at our center specifically for your group. Coordinating a blood drive is easy to do, takes very little effort and produces big life-saving results. For more information or to set up a blood drive, please call 714-509-8339.

Designated Donor Program

CHOC also offers a unique designated donor program which allows your blood donation to be directed to a specific child in need. Each unit of blood is tested and if accepted and compatible will be available for the specific child. No blood is ever wasted and if the donation is not compatible or the child does not need the blood at the time, it will be released to another child in need. Blood donations must be received at least four days before the child’s anticipated need. Families can set up a designated donor program by calling 714-509-8339 and then begin recruiting donors.

What blood types are needed?

Because of the large volume of children at CHOC, all blood types are currently needed. Don’t know what type of blood you have? Come in and donate and we can find out for you a few days after your donation.

Is donating blood safe?

There is no danger in getting AIDS or other diseases from giving blood or blood products. Sterile, one-time-use disposable needles, tubing and collection bags are used to protect you. Registered nurses who are specially trained in blood collection will remain with you during the entire donation process.

Are there any side effects?

Side effects as the result of blood donation are rare. The donor center nursing staff will educate you on any potential side effects that you could possibly experience. Healthy people have an excess supply of red blood cells, platelets and plasma.

Before Mackenzie was born, prenatal ultrasounds and testing diagnosed her with TAR syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that meant she was missing a bone in each forearm and had a dramatically low platelet count. Doctors also detected a heart defect that would require surgery immediately after she was born. Over the next three years, she received nearly 200 blood and platelet donations. Now every time Mackenzie has an appointment at CHOC, she stops by the Blood & Donor Services Center with her mom to personally thank donors for helping kids just like her.

Same-day appointments are often available.

We are located in the CHOC Commerce Tower.
505 S. Main St. Suite 185
Orange, CA 92868

Call 714-509-8339 to make an appointment
You can also email donatebloodforkids@choc.org

Blood and Donor Services Hours:

Monday and Wednesday – 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday – 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Friday – 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday – 7 a.m. to noon

Bone Marrow Information:
e-mail: outreach@nmdp.org or call 1-800-627-7692