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University of Colorado Hospital Directed Blood Donation

 

What is a Directed Donation?

A Directed Donation is the collection of a blood product for transfusion to a specific recipient. The donor is selected by the recipient and the directed blood collection is ordered by the recipient’s physician. 

Although there is no evidence to suggest there is any medical benefit from a directed donation, many families elect to proceed with directed donations for "peace of mind."  On occasion, additional products may be collected from a Directed Donor to be used for the needs of University of Colorado Hospital patients.

Am I Eligible to Donate for Someone Else?

All Directed Donors must meet the same qualifications as a volunteer donor. For the safety of the recipient, a directed donor’s blood must be compatible with the recipient. If the donor does not know his/her blood type, arrangements can be made through the Direct Access Testing Program at the UCH Clinical Laboratory to test the donor prior to the donation (there is a fee associated with such testing).

In some cases, if the donor is not compatible with the recipient, he or she may still donate to the hospital’s blood supply to help replace what his/her friend or family member has used.

Basic Requirements

  • Be in good health
  • Be at least 18 years old (17 with parental consent)
  • Body weight of at least 110 pounds
  • Have no history of HIV/AIDS or risk factors for contracting HIV/AIDS or hepatitis
  • Have not had a tattoo or body piercing in the past 12 months
  • No aspirin or aspirin containing products in last 36 hours (for platelet donations only)
  • No antibiotics in last 48 hours, unless they are for prophylactic use only
  • No recent travel to places where malaria might be a risk, or to places in Europe that might be a risk for variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Additional requirement questions may be addressed at the time of scheduling your donation.

How Soon Will a Directed Unit Be Available?

Depending on when the unit is drawn, it could take 2–3 days before the unit is available for the recipient. We do not offer directed donations on an emergency basis.

How Often Can a Directed Donation Be Made?

Red cell donations can be made every 56 days. Depending on the circumstances, a platelet donation can be made every 3 days and a plasma donation can be made every 28 days. 

Steps to Take to Set Up a Directed Donation

  1. A physician order using the official order form or by a written a prescription must be faxed or brought to the Donor Center (720) 848-1056. The order form must include the following recipient information:
    • Name (First and Last)
    • Medical Record Number
    • Date of Birth
    • Social Security Number
    • Hospital Location
    • Blood Type
    • Ordering physician's name and phone number
    • What products are being requested and how many
    • Date and type of surgery or date of anticipated transfusion.
  2. The Transfusion Service Medical Director or designee reviews the order and determines if the directed units are appropriate.
  3. After Transfusion Service Medical Director or designee has approved the need for blood, an appointment can be made through the Donor Center by calling (720) 848-1230. Same day appointments may not be available, but you will be accommodated as soon as possible.

Testing

Blood donated for directed donation undergoes the same testing as volunteer units. All blood is tested for Blood Type, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and C, HTLV, HIV, WNV, and unexpected antibodies. If any of the test results are abnormal, the unit may not be available for transfusion. The recipient’s physician is notified if one of the units is not available so that another directed donor may be found. All testing takes a minimum of 48 hours to complete.

Important Information

Women of childbearing age should not receive blood donated by their children, their husband or their husband’s blood relatives. Receiving blood from these individuals could cause complications with future pregnancies.

Are There Fees Associated with Directed Donation?

A fee for the transfusion is charged to the recipient’s insurance. There may be extra fees for irradiation and other special handling if needed.

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