Is Michigan Blood part of the Red Cross?
No. The Michigan Blood network comprises several independent, community-based blood banks. Michigan Blood 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 Blood operated by the public health department?
No. Michigan Blood is an independent nonprofit organization with a mission of human service and health care support. Michigan Blood does not receive funding or any other support from municipal, county, state, or national government agencies.

Who runs Michigan Blood?
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 Blood supply blood?
Twenty-six hospitals in four major regions of the state, with a combined population of about 1.5 million, rely on Michigan Blood for 100 percent of their regular blood supply. These hospitals include large regional medical centers that care for patients from many Michigan counties.

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

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

What happens if Michigan Blood runs out of blood?
That never has happened. As an added reassurance, through the National Blood Exchange Michigan Blood 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 Blood have enjoyed a generally steady, reliable supply of blood.

Does Michigan Blood 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 Blood also make it easier for local physicians to diagnose and treat complex illnesses and special needs.

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