Hoxworth Blood Center - Donating Is Safe

View info about one of our nine neighborhood donor centers

Sickle Cell Donor
Recruitment Program

Hoxworth Hosts Minority Donor Recruitment Dinner
on Friday, February 8th --> see photos

What is Sickle Cell Disease?
Sickle cell disease is a hereditary blood disorder that affects the shape of red blood cells. Red blood cells are responsible for the delivery of oxygen to all parts of the body. Normally, they are shaped like doughnuts and are soft and flexible.

Red blood cells in a person who has sickle cell anemia transform into a crescent shape and are rigid, sticky and fragile. These crescent or sickle-shaped cells also clump together causing blockages in blood vessels throughout the body.

People with sickle cell disease often feel weak and tire more easily. They also experience serious complications including, severe pain from blocked blood vessels, difficulty fighting infections, and in the worst cases, even strokes.

How is Sickle Cell Disease treated?
There is no cure for sickle cell anemia. Without proper treatment, it is possible for some people to die from the disease. However, doctors can provide treatments that help prevent complications from the disease.

Pain medications help relieve the symptoms when patients are in crisis. Young children and teenagers who have sickle cell disease often take penicillin or other antibiotics to help fight infections. Patients may need to get regular transfusions of healthy red blood cells to help carry oxygen to the tissues of their bodies more effectively.

Blood needs for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease
Blood transfusions are vital to help maintain good health for those afflicted with this disease. Sometimes transfusions have meant the difference between life and death.

Periodic blood transfusions from healthy volunteer blood donors help to decrease the number of sickle-shaped red blood cells. Transfusions are also effective in reducing the complications associated with sickle cell disease.

The effect of repeated transfusions are not without complications for the recipient. Repeated exposure to foreign blood proteins (known as antigens) can trigger an immune response that causes the body to try and protect itself by removing these foreign red blood cells.

In order to prevent this immune response from taking place, it is important to closely match the blood proteins or antigens of the patient with those of the blood received.

How African-Americans can make a difference
Sickle cell disease mostly affects people of African ancestry, but also occurs in other ethnic groups, including people who are of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern descent. Finding antigens that match the red blood cell composition of the recipient will most likely be seen with units of blood donated from someone who is of the same ethnic background.

African-Americans in the Greater Cincinnati community have the unique opportunity to donate for this specific patient population. They have the capability to sustain and improve the lives of children and adults afflicted with this debilitating disease.

Everyone who participates in this program will not be a successful match for the transfusion needs of patients with sickle cell disease. However, even if your blood is not used to treat a sickle cell patient, it will be used to heal another patient who may have required surgery, been hurt in an accident or received an organ or tissue transplant.

All donors, whether their red blood cells are used to treat a sickle cell patient or someone else, can provide life-saving blood to as many as three other individuals.

How to donate:

Call our Appointment Center at (513) 451-0910 or (800) 830-1091 to speak with a tele-recruitment representative.
Visit one of our nine neighborhood donor centers or a community blood drive.
E-mail our Appointment Center and someone will call you back. Please include:
- name
- date of birth
- phone number
- where you want to donate
- date and time of donation
Click here to send email: hoxapctr@ucmail.uc.edu.

The requirements to give blood are:

•Age: At least 17 years old and in good general health. There is no upper age limit.
•Weight: Minimum of 110 pounds.
•Identification: Must provide photo I.D.
•Food: Eat a good meal within four hours before giving.
•Drink: Drink plenty of water or juice before and after donating.

Donating blood and is safe and easy, and is a great way to give back to your community. Each donation takes about one hour and could save up to three lives.

First time donor? Click here...>>

Hoxworth Blood Center at the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center needs to collect from 350 volunteer blood donors and 40 volunteer platelet donors each day to keep up with the demands of tri-state hospitals and their patients. Hoxworth, founded in 1938, serves 28 hospitals in 17 counties in Southwestern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana. Annually, Hoxworth collects over 90,000 units of blood from local volunteer donors.