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Home Medical Services Blood Donations Autologous Blood Donation

Autologous Blood Donation

If you are interested in donating your blood for an upcoming procedure, the process is as follows:

Your physician must first:

  • Schedule your surgery date. 
  • Complete and sign an Autologous and Directed Donation Order Form.
  • Fax the signed form to the Orange Blood Donor Center at 714-456-8758.

Then you must:

  • After your surgery date has been scheduled and your doctor's order completed and faxed to the Orange donor center, you may schedule your donation appointment by calling 714-456-5433. Please keep in mind that the donor center is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. We do not accept autologous donors at our Irvine donor center. Autologous donations are by appointment only.
  • You should allow one hour for your appointment.

Autologous blood donation is giving blood for your own use for a scheduled procedure or transfusion.

Your physician will discuss the advantages of receiving your own blood and the process of autologous donation with you.

Your physician will determine if he/she believes you are a good candidate to donate blood for yourself. As well, when you come to donate blood we do a mini health screening to verify if you are a good candidate.
Yes, all donated blood is rigorously tested for infectious diseases before it is cleared for transfusion.
Yes. If you can't donate for yourself, your doctor can complete a Directed Donation Form so a specific person—like a friend or family member—can donate blood for you. The donor must still meet standard eligibility and safety requirements.

To prepare for your donation, you should:

  • Maintain a healthy diet.
  • Drink at least eight glasses of water or juice in the 24 hours prior to each donation.
  • Avoid fatty and fried food for 24 hours prior to your donation.
  • Take an iron supplement to help your body replace the red cells and iron lost during your donation and prevent anemia. An information sheet about iron will be provided to you at the time of your donation.

The number of units you donate depends on the type and date of your procedure, and is ordered by your physician.

You may donate a unit every seven days within 35-42 days of your procedure, up to seven working days prior to your procedure date.