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Blood donors who give at Heritage Valley Sewickley Blood Bank can help local residents who are patients at Heritage Valley Health System. Because we maintain our own blood bank, surgery is still possible when regional blood supplies are low.
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- Blood cannot be manufactured.
- Giving blood is entirely safe.
- The entire process takes only 45 minutes, including 10 minutes for the actual blood donation.
- Most people can give blood, even if they take medication.
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If you are going to have surgery in the next few months that may require a blood transfusion, you have three options. You can:
- Receive blood from the general blood supply, donated by volunteer blood donors. After the blood is donated, it is subjected to highly sensitive screening tests that are used to detect hepatitis and the AIDS marker, along with other contagious diseases.
- Donate your own blood (make an autologous donation) prior to your surgery if your physician and the blood bank medical director agree that you can do so. This allows you to receive perfectly compatible blood that is the safest for you. It also eliminates the slight risk of acquiring an infectious disease, and eliminates the possibility of allergic reactions to blood.
- Arrange for others to donate for you. Directed donations must be a blood-type that is compatible with your blood and must meet all of the other criteria required of volunteer donors.
Feel free to discuss the options of autologous and directed donations with your physician, or call the blood donation center staff.
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If you are able to donate your own blood, you need to make an appointment with a blood donation center no later than four to six weeks prior to your surgery. Autologous donations are drawn Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at Sewickley, There is a two-week interval between donations, with the final donation occurring two weeks before the date of your surgery.
When you arrive at Heritage Valley Sewickley, you must stop at the third floor patient registration desk. There is a fee for the donation, storage and monitoring of your units of blood. This will be billed to your insurance company. Please have all of your medical insurance information with you. After you register, report to the blood bank on the sixth floor near the central elevators.
The staff will ask you questions concerning your health, and give you a mini-physical.
Your unit of blood will be specially tagged and monitored in the blood bank until you need it. It is stored separately from our other units of blood to prevent its accidental infusion to another patient.
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Directed donors must donate at least two weeks before the surgery so the blood will be ready for your surgery. Donors must call the blood donation center for an appointment. At this time, they will receive information regarding registration, consent and required doctor's orders.
The directed unit will be specially tagged and monitored in the Blood Bank until you need it. It is stored separately from our other units of blood.
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Located on the sixth floor of the hospital, near the central elevators.
Hours by appointment.
Call 412.749.7012 for an appointment.
