RALEIGH, NC — In a state where the demand for blood donations remains high, individuals like Christi Vereckey and Alexander Warren are making a significant impact by donating regularly. Vereckey shares a personal motivation for her contributions: “When I had my second baby, I almost didn’t make it. I needed 6 pints of blood. It was scary, but I was grateful.” Similarly, Warren recalls her own inspiration, stating, “It started when I was a kid. My grandmother died when I was eight, but the gift of life continues at the age of 29, along with my father. He and I have been doing that in his memory all this time.”
The blood donation market is robust, currently valued at $11.5 billion in 2023. The American Red Cross and The Blood Connection stand out as the two largest suppliers of blood to hospitals in central North Carolina. While both organizations operate as non-profits, some for-profit entities also exist in the sector. Although they cannot offer payment for blood donations, they often provide incentives like t-shirts and food gift cards.
“Throughout our organization, we aim to get 1,000 donors a day,” said Ellen Kirtner from The Blood Connection. She emphasized the irreplaceable nature of blood donations, noting, “Blood can’t be manufactured. We can’t make it in a lab. It has to come from a human volunteer.” Mallory Barnett of the American Red Cross added, “We deliver thousands of units of blood each month, supporting most of our local hospitals, like Duke and UNC.”
Duke University Hospital’s medical director of blood transfusion services, Dr. Nick Bandarenko, explained the hospital’s needs, highlighting that Duke, with its 1,000 beds, is a center for trauma cases. “We look to release 100 to 200 units of blood per day,” Bandarenko said, illustrating the critical demand for consistent blood donations.
Kirtner reiterated the unpredictable nature of hospital needs, saying, “They don’t know what’s going to walk into their door every day, but it’s our responsibility as a community blood center to ensure that blood is available for them.” Bandarenko noted that blood can be stored for up to six weeks but is typically used within three weeks, emphasizing the urgency for donors, particularly before disasters like hurricanes.
While UNC Health, Duke Health, and WakeMed have not disclosed their payment structures for blood products from the American Red Cross or The Blood Connection, the average cost for hospitals based on the 2019 National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey was approximately $215 per unit of red blood cells. Despite these costs, blood donors feel the rewards of their contributions. “It could affect up to three lives,” Barnett explained, depending on the medical needs at the time.
Dr. Bandarenko noted that the costs associated with blood donations cover testing and transportation to hospitals. He affirmed the altruistic nature of donors, saying, “They are there to provide for the needs of other men, women, and children. Patients are billed for the blood transfusion and the nursing period to administer the blood product.”
For sponsors like Warren and Vereckey, the act of donating blood is a fulfilling and impactful choice. “It makes you feel good,” Warren said. “You are doing something to help people. It is always on your mind.” Vereckey echoed this sentiment: “I’m glad someone did it for me. I hope that every time I donate blood, I save a person’s life or the lives of many people.”
As the need for blood donations continues, local organizations encourage community members to step forward and contribute, knowing that their efforts can save lives every day. Stay tuned to Bull City Citizen for more updates on health initiatives and community contributions in North Carolina.
