Memorial Blood Centers Responds to Concerns About the Safety of the Community's Blood Supply

Memorial Blood Centers Responds to Concerns About the Safety of the
Community's Blood Supply

ST. PAUL, Minn., Nov. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Memorial Blood Centers
today addressed recent concerns about the potential effect of H1N1 on the
local blood supply and detailed the steps the organization continues to take
to meet the needs of its 30 area hospital partners for a safe and ample supply
of blood and blood products.

"A great deal is being written about the H1N1 virus and recent concerns have
been raised regarding the virus's potential impact on our country's blood
supply," noted Jed Gorlin, MD, Medical Director and Vice President of Memorial
Blood Centers. "While other parts of the country may be experiencing varying
degrees of difficulty in managing an adequate supply of safe and fully-tested
blood and blood products, that is not the case in communities served by
Memorial Blood Centers. And we hope this extremely important message will
reach everyone in the community working with us to achieve our mission."

-- The current inventory of blood and blood products available to meet
the
needs of area hospitals is stable
-- The process of blood donation continues to be safe

-- Generous volunteers who will roll up their sleeves to donate blood are
as in-demand as ever

"Historically, there has been little evidence that blood transfusion
contributes measurably to the spread of flu," Dr. Gorlin added. "To date,
there are no indications to suggest that the blood supply has been or will be
compromised by the H1N1 virus."

Memorial Blood Centers aggressively manages both inventory and testing
procedures to ensure the safety of all blood collected and the right
'just-in-time' supply of the blood types most needed by area hospital clients.
14 tests are performed on each unit of donated blood--including 11 testing for
infectious diseases. The organization regularly updates its standing Pandemic
Preparedness Plan, continues to monitor the H1N1 situation closely, and works
directly with the Hennepin County Preparedness task force, Minnesota
Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control, and its hospital partners
to stay ahead of any developing situation.

-- Memorial Blood Centers urges all blood donors to be informed, take
everyday actions to stay healthy, be alert to H1N1 flu symptoms, and
continue to give.
-- Blood donors who are healthy and well are encouraged to continue to
donate.
-- Making a blood donation does not weaken the body or make it more
susceptible to the flu.
-- Blood is the ultimate renewable resource: the body replaces fluids
within hours and red blood cells within three weeks.

-- There is no risk to donors of contracting an infectious disease
through
the donation process.

"As with blood centers around the country, we also have seen an increase in
absenteeism in schools and offices--due to any number of reasons, from
downsizing and layoffs to flu symptoms," Dr. Gorlin concluded. "But unlike
reports from other regions, Memorial Blood Centers has successfully managed
blood collections through our 11 donor centers and the hundreds of
community-sponsored blood drives we conduct each month. The blood supplies our
clients need are what we make available."

With the holidays approaching--when the need for donations is
greatest--Memorial Blood Centers encourages everyone in the community who is
healthy and eligible to donate to call 888-GIVE BLD (888-448-3252) and make an
appointment to save a life.

Fast Facts about Giving a Gift to Your Community:
Every two seconds, someone needs blood and making a donation is one way to
give a potentially life-saving gift to friends, family, and community. Donors
17 and older must be in good health and weigh at least 110 pounds; donors 16
years of age must weigh at least 130 pounds, be at least 5 feet tall, and have
written parental consent.

About Memorial Blood Centers
Memorial Blood Centers, celebrating its 60th anniversary, is the only
locally-operated nonprofit organization supplying life-saving blood and blood
components to over 30 hospital partners throughout Minnesota and northwestern
Wisconsin. Operating 11 donor centers and conducting hundreds of blood drives
each month, Memorial Blood Centers also is a national leader in transfusion
medicine, providing expert technical services to clients throughout the U.S.
For more information, call 888-GIVE BLD or visit www.memorialbloodcenters.org.

SOURCE Memorial Blood Centers

Wendy Capetz, Directors of Marketing and Development of Memorial Blood
Centers, +1-651-332-7220