Donation Centers
Donating Blood
Donating Apheresis
Donating Marrow /
Stem Cells
Donating Cord Blood
  Where
Michigan Community Blood Centers has many blood donation centers – choose a convenient site. Or give at a mobile blood drive in your region; many are open to the public.

When
Some Michigan Community Blood Centers locations and blood drives require appointments and give priority service to donors with appointments. Others accept walk-ins. Call toll-free 1-866-MIBLOOD to connect with a donor center in your region and establish a convenient time to give blood.

Facts

  • Giving blood takes only a short time: just 7-10 minutes to draw your blood, plus approximately 40 minutes for registration, pre-donation health screening, and snack/rest period afterward.
  • Every donated pint of blood can help 3-4 people.
  • You CANNOT get AIDS or any other infectious disease from the act of donating blood. Equipment used to collect blood comes prepackaged and sterile; it is used just once and then properly disposed.

Donor Requirements

You may be eligible to give blood every 56 days if you are a healthy person 17 or older, weighing 110 pounds or more.

You may need to wait to donate blood if you have:

  • Allergies – You may donate only if symptoms are under control.
  • Colds & Flu – Wait until you have no fever and you feel well.
  • Dental Work – Wait 2 to 6 weeks after major procedures; OK after fillings and cleanings if symptom free.
  • Infectious Diseases – Check with our Donor Services staff if exposed to any contagious disease (measles, chicken pox, mumps, mononucleosis, whooping cough) in past 4-6 weeks.
  • Pregnancy – Wait 6 weeks after delivery or interrupted pregnancy.
  • Ear/Body Piercing – You may donate if piercing was done with disposable device or in doctor’s office; otherwise, wait 12 months.
  • Skin Infections – Wait until wounds or burns are healed and infection-free.
  • Medications – Many are acceptable but you must know the exact name
  • Vaccinations – Flu / can donate; Other vaccinations / check with Donor Services staff.
  • Past Deferrals – Please try again, because changes in donor criteria may make you eligible now.

You must wait 12 months (1 year) to donate after receiving a tattoo or after treatment for syphilis or gonorrhea.

You MAY NOT donate at all if you have AIDS, positive HIV test, some blood diseases, or epilepsy; OR if you have chronic lung, liver, or heart disease; OR if you have had hepatitis; OR if you have spent a total of 3 months in the United Kingdom between 1980 and 1996.

 



© Michigan Community Blood Centers

 

HARRY JONES, one of the highest-gallon donors at Michigan Community Blood Centers, recently visited the Main Donor Center in Grand Rapids to give another pint, bringing him close to the 33-gallon mark. A co-owner of Executive Group Realty in Cascade, Harry has been giving blood since his youth, when he was a Boy Scout, and ever since has made it a habit to donate regularly. Harry also has helped organize mobile blood drives and has been an enthusiastic advocate for blood donation, telling people wherever he goes that “giving blood is a good thing! It’s easy, it makes you feel good, and people should know how important it is.” Photo courtesy Executive Group Realty.