Ackerman Union Donor Center located on UCLA Campus
 UCLA’s satellite Ackerman Union Donor Center is located at the Ackerman Union on UCLA’s campus, to make it more convenient for UCLA staff, faculty and students to donate blood.
Approximately 100,000 units of blood are needed every year at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital. Blood transfusions help patients suffering trauma, like accidents or burns; patients undergoing surgery; women experiencing complications during childbirth; newborns and premature babies; and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or other diseases.
Thousands of generous faculty, staff and students regularly donate blood to help meet these needs. Still, only 65 percent of what UCLA patients need is collected through donations, and the need for blood continues to grow.
The new 1,500-square-foot space accommodates eight donor beds. Of these, six beds will be used to collect what is referred to as "whole blood," the process most donors are familiar with. Whole blood, after its collection, is separated into its component parts – red blood cells, plasma, platelets and cryoprecipatitated AHF (antihemophilic factor) – and used in separate transfusions to help save lives. Between filling out forms, getting screened and actually giving blood, it takes about one hour to make a whole blood donation.
 Two of the donor beds will be used for donations of blood platelets, the part of the blood that aids in clotting – important for emergencies – and helps patients with cancer, leukemia, transplants and blood disorders. In a process called platelet apheresis, whole blood is drawn, selected component parts are separated out, and the rest of the blood is safely returned to the donor. Since platelet donations can take up to two hours, donors sit in ergonomically designed contoured chairs, with access to computers with Internet access and a choice of movies to watch.
Patient’s lives depend on blood donors. Because donated blood has a limited shelf life, supplies must constantly be replenished.
To donate blood, or for additional information, call (310) 825-0888, Ext. 2, or e-mail gotblood@ucla.edu. Drop-ins without appointments are also welcome at both centers.
The Gayley center is located at 1045 Gayley Avenue, between Kinross and Weyburn avenues.
To donate platelets, you'll need an appointment; call (310) 206-6187.
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