Ten-Year-Old Cancer Survivor Holds Blood Drive at School
Stanford Blood Center Blog
by Julie Peachey | PR Officer
1M ago
By Julie Peachey, Public Relations Officer We first introduced you to young Hadley in January 2021 when she was just six years old and a year into her treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Hadley had started kindergarten in the fall of 2019 when she began experiencing pain in her legs, causing her to limp and avoid the playground at school. After a few long months of tests and uncertainty, Hadley and her mothers, Katy and Pam, were stunned when they received the diagnosis. They were suddenly forced to come to terms with an entirely new reality involving a treatment plan that wouldn’t end ..read more
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Stanford Blood Center Implements Individual Donor Assessment for Blood Donation
Stanford Blood Center Blog
by Stanford Blood Center
5M ago
As of Thursday, October 19, Stanford Blood Center (SBC) has implemented the updated FDA blood donation guidelines, which eliminate questions based on sexual orientation. We look forward to welcoming those who may be newly eligible to support local patients through blood donation. Stanford Blood Center is committed to achieving an inclusive blood donation process that treats all potential donors equally and respects and ensures a safe, sufficient blood supply is readily available for patients in need. This historic change in approach to donor eligibility is significant progress, resulting in a ..read more
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The Web’s Most Asked Questions: What Do Blood Donations Get Tested For?
Stanford Blood Center Blog
by Stanford Blood Center
6M ago
Blood donations are subject to a battery of tests that play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of the blood supply. These tests are designed to identify diseases that can potentially be transmitted through blood transfusions. Among the well-known pathogens that are screened for are hepatitis and HIV. However, there are lesser-known threats like HTLV, T. cruzi (the parasite behind Chagas disease), and the West Nile virus, all of which are on the radar for thorough testing. These meticulous measures are mandated by the FDA, primarily focusing on making blood as safe as possible. Thanks to the ..read more
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The Web’s Most Asked Questions: How Blood Donation Helps Our Community
Stanford Blood Center Blog
by Stanford Blood Center
6M ago
Blood donation is a lifeline for our community, with more than 15 million blood products used annually in the United States. Every two seconds, someone in the country requires blood, meaning blood donation directly impacts our community, saving lives and providing crucial support to those in need. Blood donation helps our community in many ways, including: Immediate Aid in Emergencies: Blood donation is like a safety net for our community in times of crisis. Whether it’s an accident, a disaster, or a sudden medical need, a readily available blood supply can be a lifesaver, ensuring timely hel ..read more
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Individual Donor Assessment — Changes to Blood Donation Deferrals
Stanford Blood Center Blog
by Stanford Blood Center
8M ago
In May 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a final revised guidance regarding risk assessment for sexually transmitted infectious diseases (most notably HIV) that can be transmitted through transfusion. Stanford Blood Center is currently working to implement these changes operationally, and we expect the changes to take effect this fall. POLICY CHANGE Previously, a man who had sex with another man within the last three months was deferred for three months following their last sexual encounter. Additionally, a woman was deferred if, in the past 3 months, she had sex with a man ..read more
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Wendy Leong: 50 Years on Team SBC!
Stanford Blood Center Blog
by Krista Thomas | Communications Strategist
10M ago
By Samm Baker, Communications Strategist Throughout her remarkable 50-year journey with Stanford, Wendy Leong has exemplified unwavering dedication as an integral part of the Histocompatibility Laboratory. During her tenure, she has been a firsthand witness (and integral part of) to the laboratory’s evolution, from its early days as the Tissue Typing Laboratory to its current form. Her extensive and diverse background in this field has positioned her at the forefront of advancements and enhancements in organ and bone marrow transplantation. Wendy’s interest in transplantation medicine began du ..read more
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A Mother’s Mission: Tabitha’s Commitment to Donating Blood for Others
Stanford Blood Center Blog
by Stanford Blood Center
10M ago
By Samantha Baker, Communications Strategist Bay Area local Tabitha Jackson knows firsthand the vital importance of a stable and readily available blood supply for those in need. Her son, who had five congenital heart defects resulting in three open heart surgeries before the age of 5, became the driving force behind her decision to donate blood regularly five years ago. “I donate because my 9 ½-year-old used 19 units [pints] before age five. In addition, my son is a unique blood type [A-], so having that supply on demand is very important,” she said. As Tabitha watched the bags of donated blo ..read more
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The Advent of AI in Blood Donation and Transfusion
Stanford Blood Center Blog
by Stanford Blood Center
10M ago
Written by Krista Thomas, Communications Strategist, with medical direction and expertise from Dr. Tho D. Pham, Chief Medical Officer With the rise of several artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) applications and uses such as ChatGPT, “deep fake” AI-generated images, and even AI song contests, we are constantly encountering new areas wherein AI has the potential impact and hopefully augment existing practices. Transfusion medicine and blood donation are not exceptions; there has been significant modeling and experimentation in these fields, with some notably encouraging uses to i ..read more
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What Really Happens to Your Body After You Donate Blood: Effects, Risks and Recovery
Stanford Blood Center Blog
by Stanford Blood Center
10M ago
Written by Krista Thomas, Communications Strategist, with medical direction and expertise from Dr. Suchi Pandey, Chief Medical Officer   One of the most common concerns folks have around giving blood—even those who do so regularly—is how their body reacts and responds to the blood they’ve lost. While you are certainly losing something temporarily in giving to others, a combination of carefully researched FDA recommendations that guide donation as well as many incredible physiologic processes mean you can donate with total peace of mind regarding your own safety. In this article, we dive i ..read more
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Valerie McGuire: Reflecting on 400 Donations
Stanford Blood Center Blog
by Ross Coyle, SBC Public Relations Officer
1y ago
Here at SBC, we love celebrating our incredible milestone donors and their impact on helping support patients in our community. One of those heroes is Valerie McGuire, who recently made her 400th milestone donation. Public Relations Officer Ross Coyle interviewed the Menlo Park resident about what inspires her to donate and what keeps her coming back all these years. What does your 400th blood donation mean to you? It was a very happy day to know that I had reached that milestone donating mainly platelets for these many years. The staff celebrated along with me and wrote very kind no ..read more
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