Frequently Asked Questions 
Is it safe to donate blood?
Completely safe! You run absolutely no risk of getting AIDS or any other contagious disease by donating blood. Our equipment is brand new, sterile, and disposable.
How long does it take?
From start to finish, we like to tell people donating whole blood to set aside one hour. This includes paperwork, talking to an historian, having the blood drawn and then relaxing in our canteen while eating a cookie and drinking some juice. For platelet donations it takes a little longer. We ask our donors to leave from one and a half hours to two and a half hours when donating platelets.
How often can I donate?
Every 56 days (or 2 months), for whole blood donations which comes out to 6 times a year. For platelets it's more frequent. You can donate up to 24 times a year.
What kind of blood will I be donating?
That's completely up to you. Most people donate whole blood, which is also known as red blood. Then there are people who donate platelets. Platelets are the part of the blood that aids in clotting. In a process called Platelet Apheresis, whole blood is drawn and then separated into its component parts (whole blood, platelets, plasma). The needed component part is then made available to the patient. Patients who have cancer, leukemia, transplants and blood disorders need platelets. And since UCLA is a Level 1 trauma center, many patients brought here also require platelets to stop their bleeding.
Do I need to know my blood type to donate?
No, But when you do donate with us, you'll receive a Donor Card from us in the mail and that will have your blood type on it.
Can anyone donate?
We wish that were the case, but it isn't. In order to guarantee a safe blood supply to the population, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) requires us to adhere to specific eligibility requirements. To review them, please click on the Donor Self-Screening Form on our website at www.gotblood.ucla.edu. If you have questions, call us at 310/825-0888 #2 or email them to us at
gotblood@ucla.edu.
What about parking?
We provide donor parking. If you need to obtain a donor parking permit at the time of your donation, please park temporarily in the alley behind 1045 Gayley (for the Gayley Center) and go upstairs through the glass door. Staff will provide parking information and permit.
For the Ackerman Center parking, donors are required to pay the UCLA daily parking rate at the kiosk located on Westwood Plaza. Donors will be reimbursed when they come to the Ackerman Center.
Several other parking options are available; donors should call or email for more information.
Can I donate if I'm over 65?
Yes. There's not an upper age cut off for donating blood, but there is a lower limit. You need to be 17 years old. Either way, we'll need you to review the donor self-screening form that you can find on our website.
Does the UCLA Blood & Platelet Center run Blood Drives in the community?
All the time. Community Blood Drives are a big part of what we do. And if you know of a place that would like to have one, we'd love to hear about it. Give us a call at 310-794-7044 or email us at
gotblood@ucla.edu.
