The designated donor program allows you to receive blood for your scheduled surgery from donors you personally select and recruit.

Like autologous donation, this procedure must be approved by a physician. A completed physician form may be mailed or brought to Kentucky Blood Center (KBC). You will sign a consent form and special tags will be issued for each person you select as a designated donor.

Each of your designated donors must present a tag and a photo I.D. such as a driver's license at the time of the donation.

The people you select to be your designated donors must match your blood type or have a blood type compatible with yours, if acceptable to your physician. It is your responsibility to select appropriate donors. Designated donations must be made at least 72 hours prior to the date of the transfusion to ensure adequate time for testing, processing and transporting the blood. For this reason, designated donations are not suitable for emergency transfusion needs.

For information about designated donations, contact KBC Donor/Patient Services Coordinator Pat Cooper.