Ochsner Blood Bank’s mission is to provide an adequate and safe blood supply for the hospitals and communities that Ochsner serves.

What is the Ochsner Blood Bank?

The Ochsner Blood Bank currently supports over 70 percent of Ochsner's blood needs for patients at Ochsner hospitals. The Ochsner Blood Bank is the primary blood supplier for Ochsner Medical Center, Ochsner Health Center - Kenner, Ochsner Health Center - West Bank, Ochsner Baptist Health Center, Ochsner St. Anne General Hospital and Lady of the Sea General Hospital in Cut Off.

In addition, Ochsner Blood Bank participates in blood-resource sharing with other local community hospitals. If you happen to need blood during a hospital stay, please consider asking your family and friends to replace the blood that was transfused. Ochsner offers a blood replacement plan that takes care of everything. It even provides coverage for your family members, or other designated individuals, to receive the replacement units for up to one year should they need them.

More than 50,000 blood components were transfused just last year. There’s also supporting information that indicates there will be a significant increase in transfusions for the current year. Blood replacement removes some of the costs of blood, but more importantly it provides patients with a safe and adequate blood supply. It’s likewise insurance that blood will be readily available should the need arise. If you happen to need blood during a hospital stay, please consider asking your family and friends to replace the blood that was transfused. Ochsner offers a blood replacement plan that takes care of everything. It even provides coverage for your family members, or other designated individuals, to receive the replacement units for up to one year should they need them. The Blood Bank will be happy to discuss the replacement program with you and make any necessary arrangements.

Blood is needed every five seconds – for babies, leukemia patients, burn victims, emergency surgeries, organ transplants, trauma patients and the list goes on. It may be needed for someone you know – even you. Few acts are as simple, and yet so generous, as donating blood. And the only source for this blood is you, the volunteer donor. Volunteers donate all of this country's blood supply for transfusions. Simply put, there is no other source. Ochsner needs your help to ensure a safe and adequate blood supply for the community.

Healthy blood donors are encouraged to donate every eight weeks in order to maintain an adequate blood inventory.

Donate blood at one of Ochsner’s convenient community blood collection centers, visit one of our donor center or call us to schedule a mobile blood drive in your area. Blood donations by appointment are preferred. For additional information or if you have any questions, please call 504-842-3375.

All healthy adults are encouraged to donate blood. Volunteers may donate blood every eight weeks, or every 56 days. Donors must:

• Be at least 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds.
• Be over cold or flu symptoms for 72 hours.
• Have not donated whole blood in the last eight weeks.
• Have had no transfusions for one year.
• Have no history of hepatitis after age 11.
• Have had no tattoos in the last month from a facility that is not regulated by the state of Louisiana.

In approximately 40 minutes, you will:

• Complete a donor registration form
• Receive a mini-physical
• Donate about one pint of blood
• Enjoy refreshments
• Receive a “Thank You” gift