Emergency Call For Blood

FARMINGTON — The Connecticut Region of the American Red Cross Blood Services said it is launching an emergency appeal beginning with all blood drives this week. Donors who have not given blood since July 3 are asked to make an appointment to give blood by calling 800/GIVE LIFE (800/448-3543) or visiting www.bloodct.org to find community blood drives and request an appointment.

A significant increase in the need nationwide by hospitals for blood has created this emergency, along with a drop in collections from mid-August to the present time, Red Cross officials said. Contributing to the shortage in Connecticut is the implementation of a new series of tests and deferral criteria designed to ensure the safety of both donors and recipients. These tests and criteria include the finger sampling of donor blood for more accurate hemoglobin levels, Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) of donated blood for the earlier detection of blood-borne diseases, and the deferral of potential donors who visited the United Kingdom for long periods of time, in order to reduce the potential for transmission of the new variant Creuzfeldt Jackob Disease (mad cow disease).

“Usually more than 90 percent of those coming to a blood drive succeed in completing the donor process,” said Dr Richard Cable, medical director for American Red Cross Blood Services CT Region. “Right now that number is down to 84 percent. That translates into nearly 1,000 fewer donations per month. We need more donors.”

Most healthy people who are at least 17 years old and weigh 110 pounds or more are eligible to give blood.