As of January 8, the Stanford Blood Center find itself in a state of critical need for all blood types, with a particular need for type O (both positive and negative). During the winter months, it is very challenging to collect enough blood to meet patient need, particularly coming out of the holidays and with many regular donors battling cold and flu season.
 
In mid-December, patients required close to 2,000 blood products in a single week, the highest utilization of blood in a one-week period for all of 2019. All of this, coupled with lower collections due to donors being away for the holidays, has depleted the Stanford Blood Center supply. This trend is happening both regionally and nationally and makes bringing in products from sister blood centers more challenging. As of right now, the blood center only has a one-day supply for O positive and O negative.

If you donate blood, let us know so we can recognize you! Send us a photo @ sci-communications@stanford.edu to be featured on our social media.