Is Michigan Community Blood Centers part of the Red Cross?
No. The Michigan Community Blood Centers network comprises several independent, community-based blood banks. Michigan Community Blood Centers is a member of America’s Blood Centers, a nationwide organization linking community blood banks in 45 states and Quebec, which together provide about 50 percent of America’s blood supply, and about 25 percent of Canada’s blood supply.

Is Michigan Community Blood Centers operated by the public health department?
No. Michigan Community Blood Centers is an independent nonprofit organization with a mission of human service and health care support. Michigan Community Blood Centers does not receive funding or any other support from municipal, county, state, or national government agencies.

Who runs Michigan Community Blood Centers?
Each Michigan Community Blood Center has a local Board of Governors to provide guidance and advocacy. Each Blood Center also has an operations manage who is responsible for coordinating the functions of all Blood Center departments.

Where does Michigan Community Blood Centers supply blood?
Eighteen hospitals in three major regions of the state, with a combined population of about 1.5 million, rely on Michigan Community Blood Centers for 100% of their regular blood supply. These hospitals include large regional medical centers that care for patients from many Michigan counties.

Who decided the Michigan Community Blood Centers would provide the blood for the hospitals it supplies?
The hospitals did. Michigan Community Blood Centers was established at the request of local physicians and hospital administrators. They believed a community-based blood bank could provide better service to assure a constant, fresh, plentiful supply of blood.

Does Michigan Community Blood Centers provide blood only to local hospitals in Michigan?
Local hospitals are always the top priority. After all local needs have been met, Michigan Community Blood Centers regularly responds to needs elsewhere in the state, nation, and world. As a member of America’s Blood Centers, Michigan Community Blood Centers also supports blood needs of the military and responds to national disasters, whenever called upon to do so.

Does Michigan Community Blood Centers sell blood?
No. Like all other nonprofit blood banks, Michigan Community Blood Centers charges hospitals a processing fee for each unit of blood, to recover the costs of collecting, testing, storing, and distributing the blood. All Michigan Community Blood Centers share a fundamental commitment to sustain reasonable processing fees and support cost containment in local health care.

What happens if Michigan Community Blood Centers runs out of blood?
That never has happened. As an added reassurance, through the National Blood Exchange Michigan Community Blood Centers also can request help from other blood centers should a special need arise. However, In contrast to many parts of the United States where blood shortages are chronic, regions served by Michigan Community Blood Centers have enjoyed a generally steady, reliable supply of blood.

Does Michigan Community Blood Centers do anything besides collecting blood donations?
Yes. Our Education Program makes informative presentations and tours available to groups of all kinds. Our Cord Blood Bank was the first of its kind in Michigan and is one of only a few nonprofit cord blood banks in the nation. Marrow donor registry also is available. Reference laboratory services at Michigan Community Blood Centers also make it easier for local physicians to diagnose and treat complex illnesses and special needs.

© Michigan Community Blood Centers