Donate Blood: Upcoming Red Cross Blood Drives In DC

WASHINGTON, DC — January marks National Blood Donor Month, and the need for blood donations continues at Inova Blood Donor Services.

Inova Blood Donor Services estimates it must collect 200 units of must collect 200 units of blood, platelet, plasma and double red cells a day to meet the needs of the community. As of Jan. 4, the red blood cell inventory is below the desired levels for most blood types. Donated blood has a shelf life of 42 days while donated platelets have a shelf life of five days.

To facilitate the donation process, Inova Blood Donor Services has donor centers (CentreMed Donor Center in Centreville, Dulles Donor Center in Sterling and Woodburn Donor Center in Annandale) as well as mobile blood drives. Donating blood during the COVID-19 pandemic is considered safe, as staff take extra precautions and use approved cleaning and disinfectant products daily.

All successful blood donations are also tested for the COVID-19 antibody, which can tell if you had a past infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. Anyone who had a positive COVID-19 test and has been symptom-free for at least 14 days may be eligible to donate convalescent plasma. This plasma may be helpful to COVID-19 patients actively fighting COVID-19 and is being studied by Inova.

Below we've rounded up the upcoming blood drives around D.C. You can also check for appointment times at donor centers or check the upcoming Red Cross blood drives.

YMCA Anthony Bowen, 1325 W St., N.W., Washington, DC 20009: Jan 22, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

American Red Cross - Hall of Service, 1730 E St., N.W., Washington, DC 20006: Jan. 5, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Capital Eagle Inc., 2815 V St., N.E. Washington, DC 20018: Jan. 9, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.