What's New in the Blood Donor Center

Platelet Donors Needed
Mayo Clinic Blood Bank invites you to become a platelet donor. Platelets are one of the components in blood that help blood clot. People who have leukemia, people receiving chemotherapy and babies who have severe infections need platelets, and we need your help to maintain an adequate supply.

During platelet donation (also called automated donation or apheresis), your blood is collected and then separated into its components by a device. This device keeps the platelets and returns the rest to you. This process takes from 1 1/2 to 2 hours, during which you can watch a movie or television and relax.

Eligible 16-years-olds Can Donate Blood in Minnesota

Sixteen-year-olds can how donate blood in Minnesota, with parental/guardian consent (download consent form).

Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Center supported the legislation, which was championed by 16-year-old Joe Gibson of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota. Gibson wanted to donate blood last year when he was 15 but could not because he was too young. Before the law change, blood donors had to be age 17 or older.

"This legislation can help increase the number of eligible blood donors and encourage an earlier commitment to blood donation among our youth," explains Dr. Manish Gandhi, medical director of Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Center. "Welcoming more eligible young people to become blood donors will enhance our ability to meet our patient' growing need for blood," says Dr. Gandhi.

Youth blood donors are an important part of the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Center's blood donation program. Currently, high school and college blood drives contribute significantly to the blood supply available to Mayo Clinic patients.

"Many people don't realize that we cannot manufacture a substitute for blood. So our volunteer donors truly provide a life-saving resource for Mayo patients," adds Dr. Gandhi.

Blood is needed to care for patients with cancer and other diseases, for organ transplant recipients, and to help save the lives of accident and trauma victims. One unit of blood can save up to three lives. As additional donor restrictions are implemented and the population ages, the United States and other countries continually need to recruit more eligible donors.

To make an appointment to donate or to learn more about blood donation, visit www.mayoclinic.org/donate-blood-rst/ or call Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Center at 507-284-4475.

Saint Marys Hospital blood donor center now open through noon hour and early on Fridays
To accommodate your busy schedule, the blood donor center at Saint Marys Hospital no longer closes during lunchtime. You can now schedule your appointment to donate anytime between 7:45 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday. Call 507-255-4359 or stop by Joseph Main 86 to donate soon!

Revised Employee Policy Gives Employees Time Off with Pay for Automated Blood Donation
The Mayo Clinic Rochester Employee Policy Committee recently revised employee policies to include up to two hours for automated blood donations. The revision allows Mayo employees to support the Blood Donor Program and give automated donations during the workday (staffing and other work requirements permitting). This important policy change makes it even easier for Mayo employees to support our patients by making the special effort to help those who need blood.

"This is another example of the Clinic supporting blood donation, and encouraging employees to support the Blood Donor Program and our patients. We are very pleased with this policy and hope that it increases the awareness of the importance of blood donation," said Manish Gandhi, M.D., director, Donor Services.

The process for drawing whole blood donors generally takes one hour and the process for drawing platelets by automated collection generally takes two hours. Nonexempt employees may be allowed up to one hour time off with pay to donate whole blood or up to two hours time off with pay to donate platelets; however, this time away must be approved in advance by the supervisor.

Employees can read the full policy in the Employee Policy Manual- section B.20 Blood, Bone Marrow and Organ Donation and Research Study Participation.

Read more about automated blood donation.