Groups release updated statistics on U.S. blood donation, use

Jan 29, 2024 - 04:03 PM
HHS campaign encourages blood donation. A man in a red T-shirt holds out his left arm which had two Band-Aids in the shape of a cross with a heart in the middle attached to the inside of his elbow after making a blood donation.

America’s Blood Centers and ADRP, the Association of Blood Donor Professionals, last week released a guide highlighting changes in U.S. blood donation and use between 2019 and 2021, including donor and recipient demographics. For example, donations from 16-18 year olds and adults under 25 declined 61% and 32%, respectively, due to limits on blood drives at school campuses, while donations from adults age 25-64 and 65 or older increased 14% and 41%, respectively. The percentage of first-time donors fell from 31% to 26%. Only about 3% of the eligible U.S. population donates blood each year. About 90 hospital-based blood centers and 53 community blood centers are registered with the Food and Drug Administration.

“This new edition sheds light on the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the blood supply and the need for ongoing donations from younger and diverse populations to ensure the resilience of the nation’s blood supply,” said ABC CEO Kate Fry.

Related News Articles

Headline
Organ Donation and Transplant Alliance launches new educational guide, workshop
The Organ Donation and Transplantation Alliance has created new resources for health care providers to encourage more organ donation and transplants. It has…
Headline
AHA issues bulletin on national blood shortage
The AHA yesterday sent a Special Bulletin to members notifying them of concerns by the American Red Cross, America’s Blood Centers and the Association for the…
Headline
Red Cross declares emergency blood shortage, urges donations
The American Red Cross this week announced an emergency blood shortage, urging Americans to donate blood or platelets to alleviate the shortage and ensure…
Headline
FDA finalizes recommendations for assessing blood donor eligibility
The Food and Drug Administration May 11 finalized revised recommendations for assessing blood donor eligibility, which use the same risk-based questions for…
Headline
AHA urges FDA to finalize new blood donor eligibility guidance
AHA today applauded and urged the Food and Drug Administration to finalize its draft guidance proposing that blood donor eligibility be determined based…
Headline
FDA proposes major shift in blood-donation eligibility guidance
The Food and Drug Administration is signaling a major shift in federal policy on who may donate blood, proposing guidelines that would eliminate the…