In addition to the Holland Laboratory, about a dozen Red Cross Blood Services regions are involved in local research and development programs, often in collaboration with universities and large teaching hospitals around the country. To donate tissue, you can sign a donor card or indicate your decision to become an organ and tissue donor on your driver's license. It is also important to share the decision with your family, because next of kin is always asked for consent of donation. HIV and other transmissible viruses cannot be contracted through blood donation. The equipment used is sterile and used only once, then immediately discarded, and new needle is used for each donation.
Phlebotomists work in a sterile environment throughout the blood donation.
Scientific data shows that people who donate blood for altruistic reasons are the safest blood donors. As an extra layer of safety to the blood supply, Red Cross accepts only volunteer blood donors. The American National Red Cross. All Rights Reserved.