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Ochsner Blood Bank is in urgent need of donations.

While all blood types are accepted, we are experiencing a critical blood shortage of platelets and Type O red cells. All who are healthy are encouraged to donate. Your donation plays a role in saving the lives of our patients and those in our community.

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

Please note blood donors must: 

  • • Be at least 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds.

    • Be over cold or flu symptoms for 72 hours.

    • Have had no dental work (including cleaning) in the past 72 hours.

    • Have not donated whole blood in the past eight weeks.

    • Have had no transfusions in the past three months.

    • Have not lived with a person who has had hepatitis in the past 3 months.

    • Have had no tattoos in the past three months from a facility that is unlicensed or not regulated by a U.S. state. Have not had a piercing in the past three months done with reusable equipment.

How Easy Is It?

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

Schedule Your Blood Donation


To schedule an appointment online, visit our scheduling page. If you are unable to make an appointment online or for more information, please call 504-842-3375.

Where you can donate:

Ochsner Medical Center – New Orleans Blood Donor Center
(Next to OMC Medical Library - Hospital first floor)
1516 Jefferson Highway, New Orleans, LA 70121

Blood donation:

  • Monday – Thursday: 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
  • Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
  • Saturday: 7 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Platelet donation:

  • Monday and Wednesday: 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.
  • Tuesday and Thursday: 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
  • Friday and Saturday: 7 a.m. - 1 p.m.


Incentives

If You Donate at OMC-New Orleans Blood Donor Center:

  • Gift Cards for Platelet Donations: Individuals who donate platelets at OMC – New Orleans: Blood Donor Center will receive an e-gift card from Walmart, Amazon or their choice of participating restaurants: Panera Bread, Quiznos, Olive Garden, Cracker Barrel, Applebee’s, Chili’s, Cheddar’s or Buffalo Wild Wings. Donate a single unit of platelets and receive a $25 e-gift card. Donate a double unit of platelets and receive a $50 e-gift card.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

If you donate at an Ochsner Blood Bank blood drive or donor center: ​​​​​​​

  • Seasonal long sleeve shirt, while supplies last 

Note: Donors who successfully donate are eligible for incentives. Donors who are deferred from donations will not receive an incentive. Any employee who is not eligible or denied donation may have a friend or family member donate on their behalf. Only ONE person may donate on an employee's behalf, and they must be able to provide the employee's full name and employee ID number. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Upcoming Blood Donation Drive

Date Location Time

Friday, March 1

Ochsner Health Center – Tangipahoa

41676 Veterans Avenue

Hammond, LA 70403

10:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

Saturday, March 2


East Baton Rouge Parish Library – Main Library

7711 Goodwood Boulevard

Baton Rouge, LA 70806

10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 3


First Baptist Church Amite

117 E. Olive St.

Amite, LA 70422

11:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Monday, March 4


Benson Tower

1450 Poydras Street, Suite 1430

New Orleans, LA 70112

10:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 6


Ochsner Medical Complex – River Parishes

1900 W Airline Hwy

Laplace, LA 70068

10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 9


Health & Wellness Day at Joe Brown Park

5601 Read Blvd

New Orleans, LA 70127

9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Monday, March 11


Ochsner Medical Complex – Clearview

4430 Veterans Blvd

Metairie, LA 70006

10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Tuesday, March 12


Ochsner Health Center – East Mandeville

3235 E. Causeway Approach

Mandeville, LA 70448

10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Thursday, March 14


Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center

1978 Industrial Blvd.

Houma, LA 70363

10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 16


Ochsner Medical Center – West Bank Campus

2500 Belle Chasse Highway

Gretna, LA 70056

9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Monday, March 18


Ochsner St. Mary Hospital

1125 Marguerite St

Morgan City, LA 70380

9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Tuesday, March 19


Ochsner Medical Center – Baton Rouge

17000 Medical Center Drive

Baton Rouge, LA 70816

10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 20


Ochsner Health Center – Covington

1000 Ochsner Blvd.

Covington, LA 70433

10:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.

Thursday, March 21


Ochsner St. Anne Hospital

4608 Hwy 1

Raceland, LA 70394

3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Friday, March 22


St Tammany Parish Library – Madisonville Branch

1123 Main St

Madisonville, LA 70447

12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 24


Knights Of Columbus – The Ludovicum Council #4663

1427 Seminole Ave.

Metairie, LA 70005

8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Monday, March 25


Ochsner Medical Complex - The Grove

10310 The Grove Blvd.

Baton Rouge, LA 70836

10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Tuesday, March 26


St. Charles Parish Hospital

1057 Paul Maillard Road

Luling, LA 70070

7:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 27


Ochsner Baptist

2700 Napoleon Ave.

New Orleans, LA 70115

10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Thursday, March 28


Slidell Memorial Hospital East

100 Medical Center Dr.

Slidell, LA 70461

10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.



Ochsner Blood Bank 

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% 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 is also supporting information indicating 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. 

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.

Have You Saved a Life Today?

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 centers 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.


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