Patients such as hemophiliacs, whose own blood does not clot properly, need these proteins. Platelets, which also aid in blood clotting, are fragile blood cells that leukemia and other cancer patients need. They must be transfused within five days of donation. White blood cells are given to help patients, including newborn infants, fight severe infections. Red blood cells help treat anemia and increase the oxygen-carrying ability of the blood during surgery.
Patients never pay for the blood that volunteers donate.
However, they are charged a processing fee to cover the costs of collecting, testing, labeling, storing, and delivering the blood to hospitals. This processing fee appears on the patient's hospital bill and is paid by health insurance plans. Information contained in this site is intended for informational purposes only. In the event of a natural disaster or emergency contact the local emergency services.