- Less than 5% of eligible healthy Americans donate blood.
The average blood donor is a college,educated white male, and is 30 - 50 years of age.
- People 65 years or older represent 15% of the donor population, but use 25% of the blood components.
- 88% of the nations blood is collected at blood centers; 12% at hospital-based blood drawing facilities.
- Criteria for donation eligibility include being at least 17 years of age, at least 110 pounds and in good health. All donors must pass a short physical exam and health history exam prior to donation.
- The U.S. blood supply is drawn from volunteer blood donors. Whole blood can be donated every eight weeks.
- The approximate distribution of blood types in the U.S. is O positive, 38%; O negative, 7%; A positive, 34%; A negative, 6%; B positive, 9%; B negative, 2%; AB positive, 3%; AB negative, 1%. Type O negative red blood cells can be given to any person; a type AB positive person can receive any type red blood cells.