Autologous Donations

The Blood Donor Programs at Providence Little Company of Mary offers you a flexible approach to your health care needs with a full range of blood donation options. More importantly, it is an opportunity for you to give one of life’s most precious gifts to neighbors, friends and family, or even yourself. Our specially trained nurses and staff will make you feel comfortable and will guide you throughout the donation process.

The Autologous Donor Program allows you to donate your own blood for your own use, usually for a planned surgery. Although blood given by volunteer blood donors is thoroughly tested and has been shown to be extremely safe, receiving your own blood, assures you of compatibility, eliminates the risk of contracting infectious diseases such as hepatitis and AIDS, and prevents reactions to foreign factors in blood. Using your own blood also preserves the community blood supply for those unable to donate their own blood.

Most people can participate in our Autologous Blood Transfusion Program if they are scheduled for surgery at Providence Little Company of Mary. Your physician and the Blood Bank Medical Director will determine if it is safe for you to donate.

Before you participate, you first need to discuss this option with your physician, who must send a written order to the Blood Donor Center. It is important to do this as soon as possible once the date of surgery is scheduled to allow enough time to donate the desired number of units. Your physician will determine how many donations should be made.

Donation schedules are tailored to meet your needs and depend on the number of units to be collected. Donations may be started up to 42 days before your scheduled surgery and are usually scheduled once a week. You may not donate less than 72 hours before scheduled surgery.

There is a fee for this service. You will be billed for blood collection, testing, processing and storage procedures. These are billed regardless of whether or not you require the transfusion. Additional fees will be charged depending on the services required. Insurance coverage varies; so you may want to contact your insurance carrier for more information.

The autologous units you donate will be stored for your surgery. However, blood components other than whole blood or packed cells, such as plasma and platelets, are also sometimes used. Additionally, it is possible that you may need more whole blood or packed cells than the autologous units you donated. When blood components and/or additional whole blood or packed cells are necessary, they will be obtained from our inventory of volunteer donors who are carefully screened and extensively tested. Ask your physician about the likelihood of needing additional blood and blood components from the regular inventory.