Donation Process

Donor safety is our top priority.

Donor Safety & Requirements

Safety Matters

When you arrive at your local donor center you will be greeted by our donor care specialist team who will guide you throughout your donation journey. You can rest assured that your donation will be performed by our knowledgeable staff of registered nurses and phlebotomists under the direction of a licensed physician. Donor safety is our number one priority!

All donations involve complete anonymity, and you will receive compensation for your time and generosity.

Take a look at our eligibility requirements, go step-by-step through the donation process, or view our FAQs for quick answers to any questions you may have.

Eligibility Requirements

Do’s

Be in good health and feeling well
Be at least 18 years old
Weigh at least 110 pounds
Possess a valid government-issued photo ID (Example: Driver’s License, Military ID, etc.)

Don’ts

Are not pregnant or breast feeding
Have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C
Have ever used needles to take drugs, steroids, or anything not prescribed by your doctor
Are a male who has had sexual contact with another male, even once, since 1977
Have ever taken money, drugs, or any other form of payment for sex since 1977
Have had sexual contact in the past 12 months with anyone described above
Have had syphilis or gonorrhea in the past 12 months
In the past 12 months have been in juvenile detention, lockup, jail, or prison for more than 72 hours
Have lived in, or visited the United Kingdom, which includes England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Mann, or Channel Islands from 1980-1996 for a total of 3 months or more
Have spent 5 years or more (total) in Europe since 1980
Have visited a malarial-endemic country within the last year

Ask About Our Referral
Program

Receive up to $50.00 for referring
friends & family members

Types of Donations

Whole blood is comprised of four main components: plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Appointment Time: Approximately 2 hours

Donation Process: Whole blood is collected from an arm vein and is performed by a nurse or phlebotomist.

A nurse or phlebotomist will cleanse and sterilize an area of the arm from which the blood will be drawn. Blood may be collected into tubes by needle or into a donation bag through sterile tubing. The entire blood collection procedure takes about 5-20 minutes while approximately one pint of blood is collected. All materials used during the donation are pre-packaged, sterile, and disposable. Once used, it is thrown away and destroyed.

Compensation: Up to $150

Platelets are small cell fragments released from large cells in our bone marrow. Platelets are important for the normal blood clotting process, binding to damaged blood vessels to form blood clots which prevent bleeding.

Appointment Time: Approximately 2 to 2.5 hours

Donation Process: Platelets are collected from one arm vein and the procedure is performed by a nurse or phlebotomist.

A nurse or phlebotomist will cleanse and sterilize the area of the arm from which the platelets will be collected. Platelets are collected into a donation bag through sterile tubing. All materials used during the donation are pre-packaged, sterile, and disposable – once used, they are thrown away and destroyed.

You can donate platelets every two weeks, not to exceed 24 donations in one year.

Compensation: Up to $150

Bone marrow is the spongy tissue found within the hollow interior of long bones such as the hip and thigh bones. The bone marrow contains stems cells that produce the body’s blood cells, which include white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.

Appointment Time: Approximately 2 hours

Donation Process: Bone marrow is removed from the pelvic bone and is performed by a licensed healthcare practitioner.

Donors are positioned on their belly and receive anesthesia to feel comfortable during their donation. Liquid marrow is withdrawn from the back of the pelvic bone using a hollow needle. As the liquid marrow is removed, donors may experience a brief period of minimal to moderate discomfort. The entire procedure, once preparation is complete, typically takes 10–15 minutes.

Compensation: Up to $300

White blood cells are one of the four main components of whole blood; red blood cells, platelets, and plasma make up the other three components. White blood cells are the body’s primary defense against infection, they have the ability to move out of the blood stream and reach tissue being invaded.

Appointment Time: Approximately 3-4 hours

Donation Process: White blood cells, particularly the mononuclear type of white blood cells, are collected from an arm vein by leukapheresis.

Leukapheresis is the process of removing whole blood from the donor, separating the blood into its components, keeping the white blood cells, and then returning the remaining blood components to the donor.

A nurse or phlebotomist will cleanse and sterilize an area of the arm from which the blood will be drawn. The blood is sent through sterile tubing into a centrifuge located in a cell-separator machine. The machine spins the blood to separate the white blood cells from the other components. The white blood cells are collected, and the remaining components are returned via the other arm. Only a small portion of blood is in the machine at any time (less than a cup). The entire procedure may take approximately 4 hours and is not uncomfortable.

Compensation: Up to $300

White blood cells are one of the four main components of whole blood; red blood cells, platelets, and plasma make up the other three components. Mobilized white blood cells include stem cells mobilized from the bone marrow after injection with an FDA-approved mobilizing agent. These stem cells increase the total number of cells available in your blood and are a critical component in scientific studies.

Appointment Time: Approximately 1 hour for screening, 30 minutes for treatment (2-5 times on successive days), and 5-6 hours for white blood cell collection over 1 or 2 successive days— totaling 2-6 successive day appointments

Treatment Process: You will receive the injection per the required protocol.

Donation Process: White blood cells, particularly the mononuclear type of white blood cells, are collected from an arm vein by leukapheresis.

Compensation: Up to $1000

Donating Blood for Research: Step-by-Step

1. Complete Online Health Questionnaire

Take our quick online Health Questionnaire and see if you pre-qualify for donating blood - it takes just 5 minutes or less to complete!

2. Schedule Your Appointment

If you pre-qualify for donating after completing our Health Questionnaire, you can schedule your first donation appointment online. We'll text you appointment reminders and notifications.
If you have donated with us before, you can donate again!

3. Donate

During your donation appointment a nurse will perform a quick health assessment and prescreening, which includes drawing a small amount of blood for testing. After determining you meet the eligibility requirements, you will be taken to the collection bed and begin your first donation!
You will receive compensation for your collection right after you donate!

4. Become a HemaCare HERO!

After your first successful donation you are now officially a HemaCare HERO and can schedule your next collection appointment!
Learn more about what it means to be a #HemaCareHERO and how your donation can impact the advancement of medical research!

Become a Donor

Tips for a Successful Donation

1. Before Your Donation:

In the days before your donation, eat healthy, iron-rich foods such as spinach, red meat, fish, poultry, beans, iron-fortified cereals, and raisins. This will help. maintain a healthy iron level. The number one reason for deferrals is anemia
Get a good night's sleep.
At least 3 hours before donating, eat a balanced meal and avoid fatty foods, such as hamburgers, fries, or ice cream.
Drink 8-10 glasses of water 2-3 days prior to donation; you can be deferred for dehydration.
Don't forget to bring a valid government-issued photo ID, a list of medications you are taking, and a list of places you have visited outside of the U.S. in the past 3 years.

2. During Your Donation:

Wear clothing with short sleeves or sleeves that can be raised above the elbow.
If you have a preference of arm or vein that you like the phlebotomist to use for your donation, let them know. We will do our best to accommodate your request.
Relax, listen to music, talk to others, or watch movies on our comfortable donor lounge chairs designed specifically for apheresis donations.
Enjoy an assortment of refreshments in our canteen area immediately after donating.

3. After Your Donation

Drink plenty of fluids over the next 24-48 hours to replenish any fluids you lost during donation.
Do not skip any meals and make sure to eat after your donation.
Avoid strenuous physical activity or heavy lifting for about 24 hours after donation.
If you feel light-headed, lie down, preferably with feet elevated, until the feeling passes.
If something doesn't feel right, call the Donor Center's toll-free number provided to you after your donation.
Enjoy your day and know that you have made a positive difference in someone's life!

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the HemaCare Donor Center do?

HemaCare Donor Center is a blood donation facility that services the medical research community. We support research and clinical trials by collecting donor-derived blood products and supplying them to scientists. These blood products and cells assist in the development of potentially life-saving therapies and treatments for various diseases.

What are the qualification requirements to donate blood or bone marrow?

All potential donors must:

Be at least 18 years old
Weigh at least 110 lbs.
Be in good health and feeling well
Not be pregnant or breastfeeding

Qualifications vary for each donation type. Complete our online Health Questionnaire to see if you pre-qualify to donate!

What COVID-19 precautions and safety protocols are in place for me when I donate?

Donor safety is our number one priority, and we follow the guidance of local health authorities — COVID-19 screenings at the door, our staff wears face masks, we clean common touchpoints and have additional safety protocols in place to ensure the safety and well-being of our donors.

What should I bring at the time of donation?

A valid government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, passport, etc.)
A list of medications you are taking (our medical interviewer needs to know what medications you are taking or have recently taken)
A list of places you have visited outside of the U.S. in the past 3 years (our medical interviewer needs to know what locations you’ve visited in the past 3 years to determine your eligibility for donating)

If I have a positive blood test result for an infectious disease, how will I be notified?

You will receive a phone call and/or a letter from the HemaCare Donor Center. Test results can be sent to your primary physician after the submission of a release form.

What kind of questions will be asked when I come in to donate?

First, you will complete our quick online Health Questionnaire to determine if you pre-qualify to donate at HemaCare Donor Center. When you come in for your donation appointment, you will be asked a series of questions about your health and whether you are at risk for certain diseases, including (but not limited to): AIDS, hepatitis, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and West Nile virus.

Will I be compensated for donating?

Yes, you will be compensated for your time spent donating. This compensation is based on a successful collection and the type of collection performed.

How long does it take to donate?

Donation times vary based on donation type. Please see our Types of Donation section to view the estimated appointment time for each collection type.

How will my blood or bone marrow be used?

Your blood donation can be used by researchers seeking new ways to treat or cure various diseases. It can contribute to medical breakthroughs in the development of new therapies that can change lives!

Can I get a disease from donating?

No, all materials used during your donation are pre-packaged, sterile, and disposable. Once they are used, they are discarded and destroyed.

If I was deferred once before, am I still ineligible to donate?

Not necessarily.

If you were deferred on the day of your donation because of dehydration or dietary reasons, please contact us, you may still be eligible to donate.

If you were deferred indefinitely because you've been diagnosed with a condition such as Multiple Sclerosis, Diabetes, Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease, Lupus, or Renal Disease, you may be eligible to participate in our Patient Studies program. Learn more here.

Will you release my contact information or use my identity?

No. All information you give to the HemaCare Donor Center is strictly confidential and will not be disclosed or released to any researcher, company, or individual. All donations involve complete anonymity for the donor. We utilize randomly generated numbers to track blood-derived products and there are no identifiers that can be traced back to our donors. Only your age, gender, ethnicity, blood type and other non-identifying information may be reported to the researcher using your blood or cells. We are dedicated to keeping your information private and confidential.

I am taking certain medications - can I still donate?

Certain medications are acceptable. Please take our online Health Questionnaire to help determine if you pre-qualify to donate with us.

Consult your physician and/or contact us if you have additional questions about your eligibility to donate.