Hours for donors
Monday-Wednesday: 7:15 a.m.-7:15 p.m.
Friday: 7:15 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Donors can schedule an appointment by calling the RMH Blood Center at 433-4298 or 800-543-2201, ext. 4298.
The blood center is located on the third floor of the RMH Outpatient Center 100 East Grace Street, Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Please park in the Dogwood lot, located off Grace Street. Go up the steps and enter the Outpatient Center through the sliding glass doors. Continue forward past the registration desk; elevators will be on your right.
Take the elevator to the third floor. Turn left out of the elevator and then left again. Continue straight ahead into the waiting area. The RMH Blood Center entrance will be to your left.
Services
Our Blood Center now has the capability to provide:
 |
Red blood cells |
|
Frozen plasma |
|
Autologous and directed donations |
|
Platelet concentrates |
|
Cryoprecipitate |
|
Apheresis (single donor platelets) |
Quantity
The blood recruitment program at RMH Blood Center has always provided blood in amounts required when needed. No patient has ever been denied blood because of non-availability.
This favorable situation exists because we at RMHBC, along with many generous donors, believe that providing blood for the use of persons who need transfusions is a community opportunity and responsibility. In order to meet the blood needs of our families, friends and neighbors over the course of the year, we must have 5,000 pints of donated blood.
Quality and safety
Giving blood is absolutely safe, and the quality of blood donated to RMHBC is high because of the good health of our donors. We offer a mini physical before each donation to ensure that the donation process is safe for the donor and the recipient.
Donated blood undergoes testing for five infectious diseases before it is processed for use.
It is extremely important for healthy members of our community to continue to provide blood for hospital patients. Your ongoing donations allow the RMH Blood Center to avoid bringing blood in from other parts of the country because of low blood inventories.
Emergency need
RMH Blood Center maintains a list of donors by blood type. In periods of emergency or short supply, you may be called upon to donate a pint of blood to replace blood given to a person in need. We appreciate your donations when called apon.
How it works
As a recipient
By age 72, about 95 percent of all Americans will have received a blood transfusion at some point. The blood that you (or a member of your family) receive comes from the Blood Center. When you are able, please consider making a donation yourself, making blood available for the next patient needing a transfusion. All types of blood are needed, all the time.
As a donor
Every healthy adult has enough blood that the donation of one pint will cause no physical harm. The human body replaces this blood quickly. A person can donate blood as often as every 8 weeks. One pint of blood can save three lives. There is no substitute for blood.
Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good general health.
Disqualifications (Permanent)
Persons may not donate blood if they:
|
Have tested positive for HIV/AIDS |
|
Have had hepatitis after age 11 |
|
Have had coronary heart disease with permanent damage |
|
Have a history of drug addiction |
|
Have had some types of cancer |
Disqualifications (Temporary)
Persons with the following conditions may not donate blood for the time specified:
|
Cold or flu (until feeling normal) |
|
Pregnancy or recent childbirth (6 weeks) |
|
Major surgery (until released by doctor) |
|
Minor surgery (after released from doctors care) |
|
Transfusion with blood or blood products (12 months) |
|
Tattoo (no waiting period if single use needle and ink are used; any other method—wait 12 months) |
|
Ear or skin piercing (no waiting period if pierced by permanent earring or disposable needle and pierced area is healed; piercing by any other method—wait 12 months) |
|
Antibiotics (off medication 24 hours) |
|
Hepatitis A contract (30 days) |
|
Hepatitis B and C contract (12 months) |
|
Dental work (72 hours after major work; no wait after routine cleaning or filling) |
|
Malaria (visited or lived in a malaria zone—12 months; immigrated from country in malaria zone—3 years) |
|
Low iron (until level is up; eating iron rich foods can restore the blood’s iron level in a few weeks) |
The following are not disqualifications:
|
Birth control pills |
|
Mild pain killers |
|
Controlled diabetes |
|
Minor tranquilizers or stimulants |
|
Weight reduction pills |