Upper Peninsula Regional Blood Center

 

Donating Blood for Yourself (Autologous)

 

Your own blood is the safest for you.  If you are planning elective or non-emergency surgery and are healthy enough to donate blood, you may be able to donate your blood for your own use.  This is called an autologous (au-tol'-o-gous) donation.

 

If you and your physician agree that autologous donation is appropriate for you:

 

* Your physician must complete and sign the Physician Order for Autologous Blood Program form.
* Your physician may recommend an iron supplement.

 

Please call the Blood Center, or one of the other donation sites to schedule your autologous donation appointment(s), keeping in mind the following:

 

* Most autologous donations must be made within 35 days prior to anticipated use.
* The last donation must be made at least three to five working days before the anticipated blood use.
* You may donate as often as every 5 days, but the donation frequency is determined by your physician and the Blood Center medical director.
* Eat a good meal and drink plenty of fluids within four hours before each donation.
* You must be free of active infections at the time of donation, including colds and the flu.

U.P. Regional Blood Center Donation Sites

 

Marquette 225-4610
Hancock 483-1392
Iron Mountain 774-1012
Escanaba
 786-8420
Sault Ste. Marie 632-1177

When you arrive at the Blood Center for your donation appointment, you will need to answer questions about your health.  Your blood pressure, pulse and temperature will be taken and your hemoglobin level checked.

 

If you are able to donate, a technician will clean the skin on your arm with an antiseptic and will use a new, sterile needle to take about one pint of blood from a vein in your arm. You cannot get AIDS or any infectious disease by donating blood.  The needle will be discarded when you are finished donating.  Afterward, rest and enjoy a light refreshment.

Your blood will be tagged with your name and identification number.  Once your unit of blood is received by the hospital or transfusion facility, that facility is responsible for its transfusion.

 

MGH Upper Peninsula Regional Blood Center maintains and follows medical-technical standards that meet or exceed American Association of Blood Bank (AABB) standards and federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.

 

Marquette General Hospital, 427 W. College Ave., Marquette MI 49855