Special Report
States Where It’s Easiest (and Most Difficult) to Donate Blood
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The United States faces a chronic blood shortage. While about 37% of the population is eligible to donate blood, only less than 10% do. The Red Cross periodically issues urgent calls for blood donors.
Every day, about 36,000 units of red blood cells are needed in the U.S., and every two seconds someone, somewhere in the country, needs blood. Around 4.5 million Americans would die every year if blood wasn’t available for life-saving transfusions.
24/7 Tempo reviewed the number of active blood donation centers registered on the Food and Drug Administration’s website in each state to identify the states where it’s easier to donate blood.
More populous states tend to have more blood donation centers — yet not necessarily enough facilities for the population. For example, California has 200 locations, the third most locations of all states, but considering the state’s largest population, it only has about five facilities per 1 million people, one of the worst concentrations. Similarly, Texas, Illinois, and New York, which are among the states with the most facilities in the country, don’t even make the top 20 of states where it’s easier to donate blood when ranked on a per capita basis.
One unit of blood is approximately 525 ml, or about 1 pint, and just 1 pint is enough to save as many as three lives. Hospitals are often in short supply of type O blood — the universal red cell donor can be given to people with all other blood types, which is why it’s used in emergencies.
Most people are eligible to donate blood, but a few restrictions apply: A person needs to weigh at least 110 pounds, be in generally good health, and be at least 16 years old in most states. Certain conditions can also disqualify potential donors. These include having had hepatitis B or C, being HIV positive, having been in Europe for a total of five years after 1980, and having traveled in the past year to places where some diseases are endemic.
Donating blood may be a good way not only to help someone else, but also to check one’s own health. All donated blood is tested for certain serious infections such as HIV and bacterial contamination. A blood test, of course, can reveal a lot more — here are 50 dangerous conditions testing your blood can detect.
Click here for the states where it’s easiest and most difficult to donate blood.
Methodology
To determine the states where it is easiest to donate blood, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the number of active blood donation centers registered on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s website in each state. Most blood centers rely heavily on mobile drives in addition to their fixed sites, so the geographic reach within their states is significantly higher. State population figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 estimates of the resident population.
50. Connecticut
> Facilities per million residents: 4.48
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 16
> City with most blood center locations: New Haven (2)
> Blood center with most locations American Red Cross (2) and Yale New Haven Hospital (2)
> Population: 3,572,665
See all stories featuring: Connecticut
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49. New Jersey
> Facilities per million residents: 4.71
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 42
> City with most blood center locations: New Brunswick (5)
> Blood center with most locations Bergen Community Regional Blood Center (5)
> Population: 8,908,520
See all stories featuring: New Jersey
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48. Vermont
> Facilities per million residents: 4.79
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 3
> City with most blood center locations: Burlington (2)
> Blood center with most locations American National Red Cross (1), University of Vermont Medical Center (1) and Veterans Admin. Medical & Regional Office Ctr. (1)
> Population: 626,299
See all stories featuring: Vermont
47. California
> Facilities per million residents: 5.06
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 200
> City with most blood center locations: Los Angeles (14)
> Blood center with most locations Vitalant (27)
> Population: 39,557,045
See all stories featuring: California
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46. New York
> Facilities per million residents: 5.12
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 100
> City with most blood center locations: New York City (16)
> Blood center with most locations New York Blood Center, Inc. (15)
> Population: 19,542,209
See all stories featuring: New York
45. Massachusetts
> Facilities per million residents: 5.22
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 36
> City with most blood center locations: Boston (7)
> Blood center with most locations American National Red Cross (7)
> Population: 6,902,149
See all stories featuring: Massachusetts
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44. Hawaii
> Facilities per million residents: 5.63
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 8
> City with most blood center locations: Honolulu (4)
> Blood center with most locations Clinical Laboratories of Hawaii (3)
> Population: 1,420,491
See all stories featuring: Hawaii
43. Arizona
> Facilities per million residents: 5.86
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 42
> City with most blood center locations: Phoenix (7)
> Blood center with most locations CSL Plasma, Inc. (10)
> Population: 7,171,646
See all stories featuring: Arizona
42. Virginia
> Facilities per million residents: 6.10
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 52
> City with most blood center locations: Richmond (6)
> Blood center with most locations American National Red Cross (14)
> Population: 8,517,685
See all stories featuring: Virginia
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41. Oregon
> Facilities per million residents: 6.44
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 27
> City with most blood center locations: Portland (11)
> Blood center with most locations American National Red Cross (5)
> Population: 4,190,713
See all stories featuring: Oregon
40. New Hampshire
> Facilities per million residents: 6.63
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 9
> City with most blood center locations: Manchester (3)
> Blood center with most locations 8 different facilities, one location each
> Population: 1,356,458
See all stories featuring: New Hampshire
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39. Maryland
> Facilities per million residents: 6.95
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 42
> City with most blood center locations: Baltimore (12)
> Blood center with most locations American National Red Cross (7)
> Population: 6,042,718
See all stories featuring: Maryland
38. Delaware
> Facilities per million residents: 7.24
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 7
> City with most blood center locations: Wilmington (2)
> Blood center with most locations Blood Bank of Delmarva (2) and ChristianaCare (2)
> Population: 967,171
See all stories featuring: Delaware
37. Ohio
> Facilities per million residents: 7.61
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 89
> City with most blood center locations: Columbus (13)
> Blood center with most locations CSL Plasma, Inc. (16)
> Population: 11,689,442
See all stories featuring: Ohio
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36. West Virginia
> Facilities per million residents: 7.75
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 14
> City with most blood center locations: Huntington (3)
> Blood center with most locations American National Red Cross (3)
> Population: 1,805,832
See all stories featuring: West Virginia
35. Washington
> Facilities per million residents: 7.96
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 60
> City with most blood center locations: Seattle (8)
> Blood center with most locations Bloodworks (15)
> Population: 7,535,591
See all stories featuring: Washington
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34. New Mexico
> Facilities per million residents: 8.11
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 17
> City with most blood center locations: Albuquerque (8)
> Blood center with most locations BPL Plasma, Inc. (5) and Vitalant (5)
> Population: 2,095,428
See all stories featuring: New Mexico
33. Oklahoma
> Facilities per million residents: 8.12
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 32
> City with most blood center locations: Oklahoma City (9) and Tulsa (9)
> Blood center with most locations Oklahoma Blood Institute (9)
> Population: 3,943,079
See all stories featuring: Oklahoma
32. Kansas
> Facilities per million residents: 8.24
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 24
> City with most blood center locations: Wichita (8)
> Blood center with most locations American National Red Cross (5)
> Population: 2,911,510
See all stories featuring: Kansas
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31. Minnesota
> Facilities per million residents: 8.38
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 47
> City with most blood center locations: Minneapolis (7)
> Blood center with most locations Innovate Blood Resources (9)
> Population: 5,611,179
See all stories featuring: Minnesota
30. Colorado
> Facilities per million residents: 8.60
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 49
> City with most blood center locations: Colorado Springs (6)
> Blood center with most locations Vitalant (8)
> Population: 5,695,564
See all stories featuring: Colorado
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29. South Carolina
> Facilities per million residents: 8.65
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 44
> City with most blood center locations: Charleston (9)
> Blood center with most locations Blood Connection, Inc. (7)
> Population: 5,084,127
See all stories featuring: South Carolina
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28. Michigan
> Facilities per million residents: 8.70
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 87
> City with most blood center locations: Lansing (6) and Detroit (6)
> Blood center with most locations CSL Plasma, Inc. (18)
> Population: 9,995,915
See all stories featuring: Michigan
27. Mississippi
> Facilities per million residents: 8.71
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 26
> City with most blood center locations: Jackson (7)
> Blood center with most locations CSL Plasma, Inc. (3), Mississippi Blood Services, Inc. (3) and Vitalant (3)
> Population: 2,986,530
See all stories featuring: Mississippi
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26. Georgia
> Facilities per million residents: 9.22
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 97
> City with most blood center locations: Atlanta (12)
> Blood center with most locations American National Red Cross (10)
> Population: 10,519,475
See all stories featuring: Georgia
25. Nevada
> Facilities per million residents: 9.23
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 28
> City with most blood center locations: Las Vegas (10)
> Blood center with most locations Vitalant (6)
> Population: 3,034,392
See all stories featuring: Nevada
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24. North Carolina
> Facilities per million residents: 9.25
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 96
> City with most blood center locations: Charlotte (16)
> Blood center with most locations Biomat USA, Inc. (14)
> Population: 10,383,620
See all stories featuring: North Carolina
23. Arkansas
> Facilities per million residents: 9.29
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 28
> City with most blood center locations: Little Rock (8)
> Blood center with most locations Arkansas Blood Institute (5)
> Population: 3,013,825
See all stories featuring: Arkansas
22. Texas
> Facilities per million residents: 9.34
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 268
> City with most blood center locations: Houston (31)
> Blood center with most locations Biomat USA, Inc. (34)
> Population: 28,701,845
See all stories featuring: Texas
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21. Kentucky
> Facilities per million residents: 9.40
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 42
> City with most blood center locations: Louisville (16)
> Blood center with most locations Kentucky Blood Center, Inc. (7)
> Population: 4,468,402
See all stories featuring: Kentucky
20. Pennsylvania
> Facilities per million residents: 9.45
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 121
> City with most blood center locations: Pittsburgh (19)
> Blood center with most locations American National Red Cross (11)
> Population: 12,807,060
See all stories featuring: Pennsylvania
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19. Rhode Island
> Facilities per million residents: 9.46
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 10
> City with most blood center locations: Providence (2) and Warwick (2)
> Blood center with most locations Rhode Island Blood Center (6)
> Population: 1,057,315
See all stories featuring: Rhode Island
18. Illinois
> Facilities per million residents: 9.65
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 123
> City with most blood center locations: Chicago (17)
> Blood center with most locations LifeSource (18)
> Population: 12,741,080
See all stories featuring: Illinois
17. Alabama
> Facilities per million residents: 9.82
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 48
> City with most blood center locations: Birmingham (12)
> Blood center with most locations LifeSouth Community Blood Centers, Inc. (13)
> Population: 4,887,871
See all stories featuring: Alabama
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16. Missouri
> Facilities per million residents: 9.96
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 61
> City with most blood center locations: St. Louis (12)
> Blood center with most locations American National Red Cross (9)
> Population: 6,126,452
See all stories featuring: Missouri
15. Utah
> Facilities per million residents: 10.44
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 33
> City with most blood center locations: Salt Lake City (8)
> Blood center with most locations Biomat USA, Inc. (13)
> Population: 3,161,105
See all stories featuring: Utah
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14. Indiana
> Facilities per million residents: 10.61
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 71
> City with most blood center locations: Indianapolis (19)
> Blood center with most locations CSL Plasma, Inc. (12)
> Population: 6,691,878
See all stories featuring: Indiana
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13. Florida
> Facilities per million residents: 10.70
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 228
> City with most blood center locations: Orlando (17)
> Blood center with most locations OneBlood, Inc. (85)
> Population: 21,299,325
See all stories featuring: Florida
12. Alaska
> Facilities per million residents: 10.85
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 8
> City with most blood center locations: Anchirage (2)
> Blood center with most locations Blood Bank of Alaska, Inc. (5)
> Population: 737,438
See all stories featuring: Alaska
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11. Maine
> Facilities per million residents: 11.21
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 15
> City with most blood center locations: Bangor (3) and Lewiston (3)
> Blood center with most locations American National Red Cross (3)
> Population: 1,338,404
See all stories featuring: Maine
10. Tennessee
> Facilities per million residents: 11.67
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 79
> City with most blood center locations: Memphis (22)
> Blood center with most locations Interstate Blood Bank, Inc. (12)
> Population: 6,770,010
See all stories featuring: Tennessee
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9. Wisconsin
> Facilities per million residents: 11.70
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 68
> City with most blood center locations: Madison (10)
> Blood center with most locations BioLife Plasma Services L.P. (12) and Versiti Wisconsin, Inc. (12)
> Population: 5,813,568
See all stories featuring: Wisconsin
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8. Nebraska
> Facilities per million residents: 11.92
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 23
> City with most blood center locations: Omaha (11)
> Blood center with most locations American National Red Cross (5)
> Population: 1,929,268
See all stories featuring: Nebraska
7. Wyoming
> Facilities per million residents: 13.85
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 8
> City with most blood center locations: Cheyenne (4)
> Blood center with most locations BioLife Plasma Services L.P. (3)
> Population: 577,737
See all stories featuring: Wyoming
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6. Montana
> Facilities per million residents: 14.12
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 15
> City with most blood center locations: Missoula (4)
> Blood center with most locations American National Red Cross (5)
> Population: 1,062,305
See all stories featuring: Montana
5. Idaho
> Facilities per million residents: 14.25
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 25
> City with most blood center locations: Boise (7)
> Blood center with most locations American National Red Cross (4), BioLife Plasma Services L.P. (4) and Biomat USA, Inc. (4)
> Population: 1,754,208
See all stories featuring: Idaho
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4. Iowa
> Facilities per million residents: 14.26
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 45
> City with most blood center locations: Des Moines (6)
> Blood center with most locations BioLife Plasma Services L.P. (10)
> Population: 3,156,145
See all stories featuring: Iowa
3. Louisiana
> Facilities per million residents: 15.02
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 70
> City with most blood center locations: Baton Rouge (9)
> Blood center with most locations The Blood Center (11)
> Population: 4,659,978
See all stories featuring: Louisiana
2. South Dakota
> Facilities per million residents: 15.87
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 14
> City with most blood center locations: Sioux Falls (4)
> Blood center with most locations VA Black Hills Health Care System (2) and Vitalant (2)
> Population: 882,235
See all stories featuring: South Dakota
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1. North Dakota
> Facilities per million residents: 19.73
> FDA-registered active blood centers: 15
> City with most blood center locations: Fargo (6)
> Blood center with most locations BioLife Plasma Services L.P. (4)
> Population: 760,077
See all stories featuring: North Dakota
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