At the Forefront - UChicago Medicine

Blood Donation

University of Chicago Medicine Blood Donation Center

Geoffrey D. Wool, MD, PhD, donating blood in the blood donation center

You can save a life today!

Maintaining an adequate supply of blood is essential for the life-saving treatments needed by many patients here at the University of Chicago Medicine.

Donating blood is safe, simple and easy. Your decision to donate with us will make a difference at UChicago Medicine. All blood collected here stays here for our patients.

Schedule your appointment to donate today:

Donation Hours

Monday through Friday
8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Location

Duchossois Center for Advanced Medicine
5758 S. Maryland Avenue, Room 2E
Chicago, IL 60637

What you need to know to donate

  • We are equally committed to the health and wellbeing of our donors. Donors must have a healthy meal and drink plenty of water before donating.
  • Donors must complete a questionnaire and a mini-physical for their own safety and to ensure that the donated blood products meet donation guidelines.
  • The donation process for blood will take about 50 minutes. Donating platelets will take up to 3 hours.
  • After your donation, please enjoy some snacks and juice.

For more information, check out out frequently asked questions about blood donation page.   

Why should I choose to donate at the UChicago Medicine Blood Donation Center?

We rely on your donations to maintain an adequate blood supply. Hospital-based donation centers, like the UCM Blood Donation Center, can be crucial to maintain hospital blood product inventory when regional and national blood suppliers experience shortages.

  • Someone needs blood every two seconds.
  • About one in seven people entering a hospital need blood.
  • Only 37 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood — less than 10 percent do annually.
  • Trauma patients often need immediate life-saving transfusions.
  • Cancer patients often need regular transfusion during their course of treatment.
  • Some organ transplant patients need multiple units of blood and platelets during their surgery.
  • Some high-risk pregnancies require multiple units of blood.

What can I expect when I get to the Blood Donation Center?

You will complete a medical history form and sign a consent for phlebotomy and required testing of your blood.

We will check your blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and hemoglobin level to ensure you can donate safely.

If everything meets the guidelines, you are ready to donate your blood or platelets. Our expert staff will collect your blood or platelets using sterile collection kits while you relax in one of our comfortable donor chairs. You will have one arm free so you can use your phone, tablet, or watch TV. Afterwards, you are encouraged to refresh for at least 15 minutes while you enjoy some snacks and juice. After refreshing, you can resume your usual activities, although we recommend limiting strenuous activity for 24 hours.

What happens to my blood or platelets after my donation?

Terrance Collier, blood technician, checks the blood pressure of pathology resident Benjamin Kaumeyer, MD, in the DCAM blood donation clinic

Your blood is just beginning its journey. Your donation and samples are transported to the UChicago Medicine Blood Bank. The samples undergo a variety of tests to ensure the safety of the blood product. The blood product is then labeled and placed into inventory ready for patient use.

Platelets only have a five-day shelf life from collection. Red Cells typically have a 42-day shelf life.

How often can you donate blood or platelets?

  • Blood can be donated every 56 days.
  • Platelets can be donated once every seven days, for a total of 24 times in a rolling 12-month period.

After your donation, consider scheduling your next appointment!