Donation is just the first stop for a bag of blood given by a LifeServer! The next stop donated blood makes after donation is to LifeServe Blood Center's state-of-the art laboratory. Every unit of blood collected is subject to fourteen different tests before it leaves our shelves.
Blood samples are subjected to the following confidential tests:
-
ABO grouping
-
Rh blood typing
- Syphilis
- Screening for irregular antibodies
- Hepatitis B & C
- HIV
- HTLV testing
- West Nile Virus
After testing, blood is separated into various component parts - red cells, plasma, and platelets - that can help save the lives of up to three different hospital patients. Collected, tested, and processed blood is then transported to one of our 160+ hospital partners across Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Should our hospital partners’ needs be completely met, we are often able to assist our partner blood centers across the country, especially in times of need such as severe weather or other disasters.