BLOOD AND PLATELETS

Important Information on the Coronavirus

The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2) is a respiratory virus that can spread from person to person. Symptoms may include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

Do NOT Donate Blood Today IF
IN THE PAST 28 DAYS:

• You have lived with an individual(s) diagnosed with or suspected of having 2019 novel coronavirus.
• You have been diagnosed with, or suspected of having, 2019 novel coronavirus.

Schedule Your Appointment

To schedule your lifesaving blood or platelet donation, please visit our appointment page.

Where can I donate? Click here >

Email us: gotblood@mednet.ucla.edu

Call us: 310-825-0888 select option 2

Donor Deferral Update

As part of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s ongoing commitment to fight the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the agency issued guidance for immediate implementation to address the urgent and immediate need for blood and blood components.

The Management Team and Staff of the UCLA Blood & Platelet are actively working on the necessary changes to the Donor History Questionnaire and related procedures. We expect to have everything in place by early August. We appreciate your patience and understanding

For additional information, Click here >

Donate blood. Save a life

As we face a critical, national blood shortage, UCLA Health chief infection prevention officers, Drs. Daniel Z. Uslan and Annabelle de St. Maurice, visited a front line blood drive at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center to donate their blood for patients.
With strict safety protocols in place, the infectious diseases experts acknowledge that the lifesaving process is safe, quick, and effortless. #UCLAHealth #TeamLA

PLASMA

Convalescent Plasma Donation

If you have fully recovered from COVID-19, please consider donating plasma. You may have antibodies in your plasma that attack the virus. Your donated plasma could be used for compassionate treatment or as part of a scientific trial to determine definitively if this treatment works. It can also be used to support research efforts such as making tests to check immunity to the virus.

If you are interested in donating plasma, please click here for the intake survey. A study coordinator will contact you with further information about how you can help. Please note that we can only accept plasma donations after you have been completely well with no symptoms for at least 14 days.

FAQs

What is convalescent plasma?

Convalescent plasma is the liquid part of blood collected from patients who have recovered from an infection. Antibodies are special proteins in the plasma that have the potential to be used to fight the infection.

Why is convalescent plasma being investigated to treat COVID-19?

There is currently no approved treatment for COVID-19. Convalescent plasma is being investigated for the treatment of COVID -19 because there is some information gained from prior scientific studies to suggest it might help individuals recover from COVID-19. Further investigation is still necessary to determine if convalescent plasma might shorten the duration of illness, reduce morbidity, or prevent death associated with COVID-19.

Complete list of FAQs

UCLA Convalescent Plasma/Serum Donation FAQs

To participate in the study, please complete our Intake Form

For additional information email: convalescentserum@mednet.ucla.edu

The UCLA Blood & Platelet Center does NOT test for COVID-19

Thank you, Joel S. for your Covid Convalescent Plasma Donation! In response to Covid-19, The UCLA Blood & Platelet Center has implemented universal masking. 

SAFETY

UCLA Blood & Platelet Center (BPC) is an AABB-Accredited Blood Donor Center with the focus on Donor Safety First

AABB-accredited blood donor centers are:
• Required to follow AABB Standards to protect donor safety.
• Taking donor safety seriously as they respond to evolving concerns related to coronavirus.
• Implementing additional donor safety measures to further protect donors.

BPC is taking the following safety measures to help protect our staff and our donors:

• Follow a donation-by-appointment policy. You may make an appointment at https://www.uclahealth.org/gotblood/make-an-appointment or call 310-825-0888, option 2
• The UCLA Blood & Platelet Center has implemented universal masking, in addition to social distancing protocols. 
• Limit donor center access to individuals with appointments who are not accompanied by others.
• Mandatory temperature screening of donor center employees and visitors (e.g. donors, couriers, vendors). Those who do not wish to participate will not be allowed in the building. 
• Walk-in donors will be accommodated only when capacity allows for appropriate social distancing.
• Enforce donor self-deferral for donors who are at increased risk for COVID-19. Self-deferral information is listed at https://www.uclahealth.org/gotblood
• Ask donors to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer before and after donation.
• Give donors more space during the entire process by increasing the distance between donors in the screening, collection and refreshment areas.
• Give donors increased spacing during the donation process. For bloodmobile drives, the collection process will be limited to only two donors at a time.
• Follow procedures for cleaning and disinfecting all areas and increase the frequency, such as cleaning the donor bed and other surfaces in the collection area after each donor.
• Increase the frequency for cleaning and disinfecting the donor screening and refreshment areas, restrooms, doorknobs and other surfaces.
• Empty waste bins frequently.
• Serve each donor individually wrapped snacks and drinks, limiting exposure to the supply, rather than allowing all donors access to the supply of snacks and drinks.
• UCLA staff follow UCLA COVID-19 policy and must stay home from work if they are sick.

Reference: AABB Donor-Center-Focus-on-Safety.pdf.

The UCLA Blood & Platelet Center has implemented universal masking, in addition to social distancing protocols.