NIH Blood Bank | Clinical

Give Hope, Give Blood

The blood you donate at the NIH Blood Bank is used to support the many patients who come from all over the world to receive treatment. The demand for blood varies according to the needs of the current patient population.

There is no substitute for human blood. We need you.

Ready to donate?

Schedule your appointment today! Platelets are also greatly needed.

Other types of donations

Learn about the different ways to donate blood and find out which one is right for you – and your blood type!

Learn more

Learn about blood donation

The NIH Blood Bank and Donor Center at Fishers Lane are part of the NIH Clinical Center's Department of Transfusion Medicine. Licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and accredited by the AABB, as both a blood donor center and transfusion service, we collect blood / blood components for patients being treated at the Clinical Center. We maintain high quality standards to ensure the safety of both our blood donors and transfusion recipients.

The Donation Experience

Learn more about what to expect when you donate with us.

Know Before You Go

Whether you're a rookie- or a veteran-blood donor, the NIH Blood Bank encourages everyone to review and remember these tips before donating blood or platelets..

Donation Requirements

Check out this list of questions donors frequently ask.

Types of Donations

There are different types of blood / blood product donations. Learn about the different ways to donate blood and find out which one is right for you – and your blood type!

Platelet Donation

Platelet donation is important. About 3,000 platelet donations are needed each year to treat patients at the NIH Clinical Center.

After Your Donation

Once you have finished your donation, follow this advice.

Need for African American donors

Black and African American donors are most likely to be a match for patients with sickle cell disease who are participating in clinical research studies at the NIH Clinical Center. However, less than 3% of blood donors are Black. Find out more about the need to diversify the blood supply.

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Participant testimonial

“Quote from participant testimonial about their experience participating in clinical research at the NIH Clinical Center...”

— Participant Name , Basic Study

Did you know?

The blood you donate at the NIH Blood Bank is used to support the many patients who come from all over the world to receive treatment. The whole-blood and component requirements of the Clinical Center vary according to the needs of the current patient population.

<5%

Less than 5% of eligible Americans donate blood

>56 Days

Donors can donate whole blood a minimum of every 56 days

40%

Type O blood is the most common blood type (40% of all donors and patients) and is in highest demand

4%

Type AB blood donors are rare (4% of all donors), but they’re important: they can give plasma to any patient

5 Days

Platelets are only good for 5 days, making the need for platelet donors constant