Some states require a parent's written consent if you are under 18. If you are aged 66 or over, you may be accepted as a donor, after your health history is evaluated at the blood collection site. The Red Cross collects blood only from voluntary donors. The Red Cross charges hospitals a processing fee to cover the expenses of recruiting, collecting, testing, processing, and distributing blood and blood products. This fee is directly related to costs.
Hospitals pass the charges on to the patient whose health insurance plan usually covers the expense.
The blood itself is never charged for because it is a volunteer' s free gift. Copyright 2000, The American National Red Cross. All rights reserved.