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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 9, 2007
DAYTON, OH — (May 9, 2007) Next week, Community Blood Center (CBC) will ship type AB fresh frozen plasma to the Department of Defense (DOD) under the America’s Blood Centers contract with the DOD. The fresh frozen plasma will be shipped directly to the Armed Services Whole Blood Processing Laboratory at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. To meet the extra need for type AB plasma, CBC needs 20 donors with type AB blood to donate plasma over the next two weeks. CBC is one of several blood centers who will be shipping fresh frozen plasma units to McGuire during a six week period in May and June. Donors interested in more information may call 1(800)388-GIVE.
“Our commitment to the DOD is to send what is needed when it is needed. At this time, we have been asked to send 14 units of fresh frozen plasma,” stated Jodi Minneman, chief operating officer of blood services. “Type AB blood donors are rare and yet they are the universal plasma donors. A patient with any blood type can receive AB plasma.”
AB-negative blood is the rarest blood type represented in less than one percent of the population. AB-positive occurs in about three percent of the population. AB plasma is preferentially collected through automated donation, also known as apheresis, in which a donor gives only plasma and receives his or her red cells back. This process allows a donor to give larger amounts of plasma more often, once a month up to twelve times per year. Plasma is fresh frozen and can be used for up to a year. Units being shipped to McGuire must have at least a nine month shelf life remaining.
For more information on blood donation, visit www.givingblood.org. Please note: CBC no longer requires donors to provide their social security number when they register to donate. Donors are required to provide a photo ID that includes their full name. Past CBC donors are also asked to bring their CBC donor ID card. Donors must be at least 17 years of age, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, and be in good physical health. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) changes blood donor eligibility guidelines periodically.
Individuals with eligibility questions are invited to email canidonate@cbccts.org or call 1(800)388-GIVE.
Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services™, an independent, not-for-profit organization, is registered to ISO 9001:2000. Community Blood Center provides blood products to 25 hospitals in the Miami (Ohio) and Whitewater (Indiana) Valleys. For more information about Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services™, visit www.givingblood.org.
Copyright 2005 Community Blood Center
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