Blood Services FAQs

We have two convenient donor center locations, one in Sandy, UT, and the second in Salt Lake City, UT. Donors are encouraged to schedule appointments, but we also accept walk-ins.

Schedule an appointment at either of our donation centers or an upcoming blood drive here.

Most people in good health with no cold or flu symptoms who weigh 110 pounds or more and is 18 years or older may donate blood. Those ages 16 and 17 may also give blood with an ARUP Blood Services permission slip signed by a parent or legal guardian. Some medications, medical conditions, or risk factors may be a basis for deferral. Visit our Donor Qualifications page for more information.

Blood supplies can vary depending on the region and time of year. Our need for blood donations continually increases as our local hospitals expand to meet the needs of Utah's growing population. If you are eligible, your blood donations are needed.

For whole blood donations, allow 45–60 minutes for the entire screening and collection process. The needle itself is only in your arm for about 6–10 minutes.

Platelet donations typically take 80–120 minutes.

When you donate with ARUP Blood Services, your donated whole blood or platelets will go exclusively to local patients. You are doing your community a great service by donating locally. We also offer a wide range of seasonal promotional items for all donors and rewards for loyal donors.

Yes. Donors who meet the federal eligibility requirements outlined by the FDA rarely experience problems with donating a pint of blood.

Contracting any disease from donating blood is virtually impossible. All blood collection equipment is sterile, disposable, and used only once, which eliminates transmission of any blood-borne disease

Many lifesaving medical treatments require blood transfusions. The type and number of blood products given to a patient depends on their individual needs. Those in need of a transfusion can include:

• Patients with cancer
• Patients with leukemia
• Patients with burns
• Those receiving organ or bone marrow transplants
• Premature babies
• Victims of traumatic injuries and accidents
• Patients undergoing certain surgeries

Call now! If your organization is interested in blood donation and community service, call 801-583-2787 ext. 2639 or email deborah.jordan@aruplab.com. Blood drives are usually scheduled at least two months in advance, but we may have an earlier opening on our calendar.

Keeping in mind that less than 4% of eligible donors choose to donate, participation at your blood drive will depend on the size of your company, school, church, community organization, or public event. To responsibly maximize our resources, we request a minimum of 25 to 30 committed donors.

A committed donor is someone who has read our donor qualifications and has signed up to donate at the drive.

We have learned that an advanced commitment from donors usually ensures they will participate. Sign-ups give us a more accurate estimate of participation, which helps us staff and equip your blood drive adequately. Advance commitments also help us ensure an adequate supply of blood for patients in your community. Many surgeries and procedures are scheduled around our blood drive projections. Knowing in advance what your drive's participation will be helps medical staff schedule these important medical procedures.

Don't be shy—ask them! You could form a committee and have each person recruit a certain number of donors. Tell potential donors that each donation can save up to three lives. If this drive is taking place at work, make sure you have the support of upper management so your donors may give on company time.

The nation's blood supply is safer now than it has ever been. ARUP Blood Services follows many safety procedures, including:

• Strict blood donor eligibility standards
• Confidential individual screening
• State-of-the-art testing
• Rigorous staff training
• Highly regulated standard operating procedures
• Sterile, single-use, disposable equipment
• Careful processes for tracking and document control

Eleven tests are performed on every unit of donated blood before it is given to a patient. Tests screen for infectious diseases, including hepatitis (a liver infection), HIV/AIDS, HTLV-I (a virus associated with a rare form of leukemia), HTLV-II, and syphilis. An exciting new test called Nucleic Acid Test or NAT can identify the actual DNA of HIV and the hepatitis virus. NAT testing helps ensure the safety of the blood we supply.