The donation process includes registration, a brief medical screening, blood collection, and time for refreshments in the Canteen. For whole blood the entire donation process usually takes about one hour and the actual blood collection segment is usually about 15 minutes. For apheresis collections the entire process is about two hours.

Whole blood donations are approximately one pint.

Platelets, are tiny cells which circulate throughout the blood and are essential in blood clotting. Click HERE to find out more information or to fill out our platelet donation inquiry form.

Whole blood donors may give once every 56 days (eight weeks) in order to allow plenty of time to replenish their red blood cells. Apheresis (platelet) donors can donate more frequently, as much as twice in one month up to 24 times per year, because the platelet and plasma components are replaced in the body quicker than red blood cells. Platelets and Plasma will return to normal levels within a few hours of donating. The red blood cells, the oxygen-carrying cells, can take two weeks or longer to fully return to normal.

To ensure the safest possible blood supply, all screening questions must be asked of all donors at each donation. The FDA (Food & Drug Administration) requires that all blood centers conform to this practice.

Donors must read the sheet prior to every blood donation, no matter how many times they have donated! This “pre-donation” information is required reading by each donor. We are required by the FDA (the government body that regulates our facility) to give each donor the information contained in the pre-donation sheet. The sheet lists high risk activities and certain situations that might exclude a donor. Because information changes regularly, we ask that donors read the sheet before each donation.

As a general rule, women have approximately 10 pints and men have approximately 12 pints of blood.

Very little! Your fluid volume is back to normal within 24 hours after you donate. Your white cell count returns to normal within 72 hours after you donate. An adult of average weight has about 10 to 12 pints of blood so the one taken is hardly missed.

Donors must be at least 18 years old (16 and 17 year olds must have written parental consent). There is no upper age limit.

Type O negative, occurring in about 7% of the U.S. population, is the universal blood type. O-Negative can be given to any other blood type. AB-Positive, which occurs in only 3% of the U.S. population, is the universal recipient blood type, as this type can receive any other blood type.

All blood donations are processed and available for use usually within 24 hours. Whole blood is processed into components (red blood cells, platelets, plasma). After processing, the red blood cells can be stored for 42 days. Plasma can be frozen and stored for up to 12 months and platelets (from whole blood or by apheresis) can be stored for 5 days.

Blood samples, drawn in separate tubes at the time of donation, are tested for a variety of infections that might be transmitted through blood transfusion including syphilis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. All results are kept confidential.

Blood is a fragile substance. It is a liquid living tissue and the different components can be kept alive for a defined amount of time depending on the component. Red Blood Cells last 42 days; Platelets last 5 days; Plasma can be frozen and stored for up to one year.

Donors may be deferred from donating due to a low blood cell count/iron (hematocrit) level. This requirement is for the safety of the donor to ensure that after donation, the donor’s iron level will still be within the normal range for a healthy adult. Eating foods high in iron (e.g. red meat, dark green vegetables, raisins) or taking a multi-vitamin with iron may help increase the red blood cell count (iron levels). For more information about iron rich foods, click here.

Although no problems have been reported, the safety of donating blood during or shortly after pregnancy has not been fully established. There may be medical risks to mother and baby if a blood donation is made while pregnant or shortly after pregnancy. Mothers need their blood for their growing/developing child.

Under FDA’s individual donor assessment, the MSM policy has been eliminated. Individuals who have been deferred under the previous MSM policy in the past may be eligible to donate once the three-month wait period from their last MSM deferral has passed, providing they meet all other eligibility criteria.

For additional resources please see below:

• FDA Revised Guidance on HIV Transmission
• CDC Data on HIV
• CDC data in different populations
• ADVANCEstudy.org
• ADVANCE Study Results

A new sexual partner includes someone you have sex with for the first time, or someone you had sex with in the past and then stopped but had sex with that person again in the last three months.

If you have taken a drug to prevent an HIV infection, known as pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP or PEP), you are asked to wait three months from last oral dose and two years from last injection to donate blood. The waiting period is required due to these drugs interfering with viral replication and thus possibly altering the detectability of diagnostic and screening tests for HIV, including extending the window period prior to detectable infection or a delay in producing antibodies.

If you have ever taken a drug to treat an HIV infection, known as antiretroviral therapy or ART, you are deferred from blood donation permanently since antiretroviral drugs do not fully eliminate the virus from the body, and donated blood can potentially still transmit HIV infection to a transfusion recipient.

The Central California Blood Center and the FDA support individuals making responsible choices for their health and the broader health of our communities. The FDA is involved in ongoing research, data collection, and assessment related to transfusion safety, including the use of HIV preventative medications, and will continue to seek opportunities that could potentially help lead to additional changes. The Central California Blood Center does not encourage individuals to stop taking these medications in order to donate blood.

For additional resources please see below:

• FDA Revised Guidance on HIV Transmission
• CDC Data on HIV
• CDC data in different populations
• ADVANCEstudy.org
• ADVANCE Study Results

California and FDA regulations require an all-volunteer blood supply and do not permit compensation for blood as studies have shown that volunteer donors provide a safer blood supply. This regulation has been in effect since the 1970’s. The Central California Blood Center is fully committed to remaining a volunteer donor supported organization and does not pay for blood donations.

CCBC strives to maintain an optimum inventory level of a 5 to 7 day supply. Due to unpredictable demands from trauma incidents the inventory can fluctuate hourly. When the supply drops below a three-day level, CCBC begins alerting local donors to increase the inventory to a safe operating level.

Due to the risk of exposure to blood and needles in the collection area and the need for complete confidentiality during screening, children must remain in the canteen or waiting areas. We feel that it is important to let the children know what their parents are doing, and if time permits, we are more than happy to answer questions and explain the donation process.

No. Patients and the 30 hospitals and their network of facilities throughout the Central Valley Counties of Fresno, Madera, Tulare, Kings and Mariposa are served solely by the Central California Blood Center. The Blood Center is a non-profit, community supported organization.

The CCBC currently has five donation centers located in Northwest Fresno, Central Fresno, North Fresno, Clovis, and Visalia. Along with mobile collection units that can travel to work sites, schools, etc. throughout the Central Valley.

For more information about the requirements to host a blood drive please call the Central California Blood Center (559) 389-LIFE (5433).

All are welcome to support the mission of the Central California Blood Center and there are many ways to help impact our community. Individuals can encourage someone to donate in their place, become a blood volunteer, host a blood drive, and much more. Learn more about volunteer opportunities.