New Jersey Blood Services issues urgent call for O+ and O- donors

MORRIS COUNTY — New Jersey Blood Services (NJBS) has issued an urgent call for type O+ and O- blood donations. The dangerous shortage is impacting local hospitals and is part of a disturbing national trend of type O shortages being reported across the U.S. Current type O blood supply is the lowest it has been since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Complicating this shortage is the recent increase in blood use. In the past few days, seven mass transfusion protocols (MTPs) have taken place in the region. MTPs involve the administration of ten or more units of blood to a patient within 24 hours. However, they can often require 50 or more life-saving blood products per patient, putting enormous strain on the blood supply.

Type O+ is the most common blood type, representing nearly 40% of the U.S. population. Type O- is the universal blood type and is widely used in emergency situations. A shortage of both types, both locally and nationally, is a serious concern for our health care system, and the need for donors is critical.

Additionally, the region continues to struggle with the challenges that often accompany the summer months. Seasonal travel, school vacations, and an increase in traumatic accidents during the summer typically strain blood supplies and lead to shortages. NJBS is urging all individuals with blood type O to donate immediately.

“We are calling on our community to donate blood, especially those with blood type O. The summer months are always a challenging time for blood supplies, but we are currently experiencing even lower levels of this critical blood type than we did at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Andrea Cefarelli, Senior Vice President at New Jersey Blood Services. “After the recent increase in blood use, our local supply is critically low and we need immediate support to ensure every patient receives the lifesaving care they need.”

NJBS hosts daily blood drives and operates 19 donor centers in the region to reach donors and meet the needs of local hospitals. Blood donors can donate every 56 days and platelet donors can donate twice per month. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently lifted several restrictions on blood donor eligibility. To view current eligibility guidelines, visit nybc.org or call 800.688.0900.

To make an appointment, donors can call 1-800-933-2566 or visit nybc.org. Can’t donate blood? You can still support NYBC’s mission by texting “NYBC” to “20222” ​​to donate $25.