ARMED SERVICES BLOOD PROGRAM OFFICE
For More Information Contact:
Julie Oliveri | Public Affairs
703-681-4497 Julie.Oliveri.civ@mail.mil
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ARMY BLOOD PROGRAM TARGETS BLOOD NEEDS OF THE COMBAT WARRIOR
Falls Church, Va., February 13, 2012—The Army Blood Program is calling for just the right type! A person’s blood group is distinguished by the presence or absence of different markers or antigens on the red cells which lead to four different blood groups—A, B, AB and O. The presence or absence of another antigen, the d antigen, combined with the blood group determines a person’s blood type. In order to ensure a successful transfusion the recipient and the donor must have compatible blood, and that’s where you come in! “We sometimes ask for specific blood types for specific products to ensure we manage blood needs efficiently,” said Col. Ronny Fryar, director of the Army Blood Program. “It also helps us make sure we inform donors whose blood type might make them fantastic donors for a specific product, like plasma or platelets. Our ultimate goal is efficient use of resources and good communication with our dedicated donors to let them know what type of donation fits their type.”When an ill or injured service member, veteran or family member requires a large amount of blood, routine inventory can quickly become depleted. In order for the Army Blood Program to ensure a certain blood type is available to continue to save lives, program leaders will occasionally send out a specific call for help. That is why we’re letting donors know that you may hear a call for a specific blood type at your nearest Army donor center. Different blood types are sometimes better suited for certain types of donations. For example, Type O donors are in high demand for whole blood donations, while Type A donors sometimes fit better into plasma or plateletpheresis programs, and Type AB donors fit better in the plasma programs. Most of the Army Blood Program blood donor centers collect whole blood, platelets and plasma, so by using the online registration system, you’ll know exactly when and where your type is up and when you can donate again! Ready to join us in saving lives? Contact your local Army Blood Program blood donor center or visit our website to schedule your appointment today. Check out our website, www.militaryblood.dod.mil, for articles and information, or chat with us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/militaryblood, if you have questions or comments, or need to know which blood types we need now. We love to hear from our donors.