Become a HemaCare Hero today!


Get involved. Become a donor. Give hope.

Why Donate?

Your blood donation can impact the discovery of life-changing therapies!

By donating blood with HemaCare Donor Center, you can play a vital role in the development of new treatments for critical illnesses like cancer. Get involved in the search for life-saving cures and be compensated for your time and effort.

Explore and Learn

Types of Donations

Whole Blood

Compensation: $100 - $200

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Platelet

Compensation: Up to $150

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White Blood Cell

Compensation: $300 - $600

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Bone Marrow

Compensation: $400 - $800

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Mobilized WBC

Compensation: $600 - $1,200

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Whole Blood donations are versatile and can be separated into specific components (red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, and platelets) to be used in investigative research for various illnesses and diseases or to advance basic scientific knowledge.

Donation Process: A nurse or phlebotomist will cleanse and disinfect a small area on your arm. A needle will be inserted into a vein in your arm and blood will be collected into a donation bag through sterile tubing.

You can donate a unit of whole blood every 8 weeks; smaller amounts of blood can be donated more often.

The materials used during your donation are pre-packaged and disposable, for one-time use only.

Donation Time: 30 - 45 minutes Total Appointment Time: 1.5 hours Compensation: $100 - $200

Platelets play a critical role in your blood clotting ability and can be used in research for bleeding disorders, chronic inflammation, thrombocytopenia (low platelet counts), and much more.

Donation Process: Platelets are collected using a special blood collection machine and a process called apheresis (a-fur-e-sis). A nurse or phlebotomist will cleanse and disinfect a small area on your arm. A needle will be placed in a vein in one of your arms and will draw blood out into the machine and separate it into its components. A portion of platelets and plasma will be collected, and the rest of your blood will be safely returned to you through the same needle.

You can donate platelets every two weeks, not to exceed 24 donations in one year.

The materials used during your donation are pre-packaged and disposable, for one-time use only.

Donation Time: 1.5 hours Total Appointment Time: 2 hours Compensation: Up to $150

White Blood Cells are an important part of your immune system and your body’s primary defense against infection. Researchers are developing new treatments harnessing the power of white blood cells to fight cancer and infectious diseases.

Donation Process: White blood cells are collected using a special blood collection machine and a process called apheresis (a-fur-e-sis). A nurse or phlebotomist will cleanse and disinfect small areas on both of your arms. One needle will be inserted into a vein in each of your arms and blood will be collected through sterile tubing into the cell-separator machine. The machine spins the blood to separate the white blood cells from the other components. The white blood cells are collected, and the remaining components are returned through a needle into your other arm. Only a small portion of blood is in the machine at any given time (less than a cup).

You can donate white blood cells every 2 weeks, not to exceed 24 donations in one year.

Donation Time: 3 – 4 hours Total Appointment Time: 4.5 – 5 hours Compensation: $300 - $600

Bone Marrow contains blood and tissue stem cells and is used in the investigation of the treatment of various diseases including cancer, blood disorders, and immune or genetic diseases.

Donation Process: You will be positioned on your stomach and a nurse or phlebotomist will cleanse and disinfect a small area of skin over your pelvic bone. You will be given an injection of a local anesthesia into the skin and tissue. This numbs the area where the collection is taken to help you feel comfortable during your donation. A small amount (sample) of bone marrow will be drawn from inside your pelvic bone by a licensed Healthcare Practitioner using a needle. As the bone marrow is removed, you may experience a brief period of minor discomfort. The entire procedure, once preparation is complete, takes approximately 15 minutes.

You can donate bone marrow every 3 months.

The materials used during your donation are pre-packaged and disposable, for one-time use only.

Donation Time: 30 minutes Total Appointment Time: 1.5 – 2 hours Compensation: $400 - $800

Mobilized White Blood Cells include stem cells mobilized from bone marrow. White blood cells usually comprise less than 1 of every 1000 cells in your blood. Their numbers in the blood can be increased ten times or more by use of ‘mobilizing’ medications that cause the bone marrow to increase stem cell production and enhances their movement (mobilization) into the blood stream. Healthy donors eligible to maximize their donation impact receive an FDA-approved medication injection that has been used for years by cancer patients preparing for personal stem cell treatments. Mobilized blood cells are a critical component in medical studies.

Treatment Process: Before your stem cell donation, you will receive 1 – 5 daily injections of mobilizing medication(s) to make your body produce more stem cells. Some mobilizing injections can occur on the same day as the collections, more often they occur over several days, one injection per day, before the collection.

A nurse or phlebotomist will cleanse and disinfect your arm and you will receive a mobilizing injection per the required protocol.

Donation Process: White blood cells are collected using a special blood collection machine and a process called apheresis (a-fur-e-sis). A nurse or phlebotomist will cleanse and disinfect small areas on both of your arms. One needle will be inserted into a vein in each of your arms and blood will be collected through sterile tubing into the cell-separator machine. The white blood cells are collected, and the remaining components are returned through a needle into your other arm. Only a small portion of blood is in the machine at any given time (less than a cup).

Mobilized blood donors are compensated at a higher rate because of the additional time commitment.

You can donate mobilized white blood cells every 4 months.

Treatment (Mobilized Injection) Appointment Time: 30 minutes to one hour per visit Donation Time: 3 – 4 hours Total Appointment Time: 5 – 5.5 hours Compensation: $600 - $1,200

Donating Blood for Research: Step-by-Step


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1. Complete Online Health Questionnaire

Take our quick online Health Questionnaire and see if you pre-qualify for donating blood. It takes just 5 minutes or less to complete!


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2. Schedule Your Appointment

If you pre-qualify for donating after completing our Health Questionnaire, you can schedule your first donation appointment online. We'll text you appointment reminders and notifications.

If you have donated with us before, you can contact our Donor Care Team to make an appointment for your next donation here.


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3. Donate

During your first appointment, a nurse will perform a quick health assessment and prescreening which includes drawing a small amount of blood for testing. After determining you meet the eligibility requirements, you will be ready for your first donation.

You will receive compensation, up to $50, for completing your prescreening appointment. You will receive compensation for your donation, based on donation type, at the reception desk right after you donate.


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4. Become a HemaCare Hero!

After your first successful donation you are now officially a HemaCare Hero and can schedule your next donation appointment!

Find Out More about what it means to be a #HemaCareHERO and how your donation can impact the advancement of medical research!

How can my blood donation help others?

Your blood donation can be part of a growing focus on using human cells to treat and cure cancer, autoimmune diseases, and other common illnesses. These innovative cell therapies are a vital lifeline, as they are becoming early treatment options for patients in need.

I have a tattoo. Can I still donate blood for research?

Yes! Donating with a tattoo is permitted. However, the tattoo or piercing must be from a licensed technician/state regulated tattoo shop. You should not donate until the tattoo or piercing site is completely healed. This helps minimize the risk of contaminated blood being donated.  If tattoos or piercings were performed at a non-licensed facility, you will not be able to donate for 12 months. 

What’s the difference between donating blood for research and donating at a blood bank?

When you donate blood for research, you are actively contributing to the advancement of scientific knowledge and medical breakthroughs – this can directly impact the future of medicine and potentially help thousands of patients globally. Donating blood at a blood bank involves the collection, separation, and storing of blood products for direct patient use at hospitals and other medical facilities. 

How often can I donate?

  • Whole Blood: every 8 weeks
  • Platelets: every 2 weeks
  • Bone Marrow: every 3 months
  • White Blood Cells: every 2 weeks
  • Mobilized White Blood Cells: every 4 months

What does it mean to be a HemaCare Hero?

A HemaCare Hero is someone who believes small contributions can make a huge impact in the lives of patients around the world and dedicates their time to the advancement of medical research by donating blood at one of our HemaCare Donor Center facilities. Find out more about how you can help make an impact by donating blood for research here.

OUR DONORS: THE VOICE OF HEMACARE


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