San Diego Blood Bank Issues Urgent Call For Blood Donations

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Blood Bank has issued an urgent call for blood donations, as mobile blood drives are being cancelled due to concern over increased COVID-19 cases amid the Delta variant. Over 50 SDBB mobile blood drives have been cancelled since the beginning of August.

In addition to facing a new surge of COVID-19, SDBB is preparing to help blood centers like The Blood Center in New Orleans, which anticipates the need for blood next week as hospitals in the area ramp back up in the wake of hurricane Ida.

“We need to make up for the hundreds of pints we would have collected at the cancelled mobile drives,” said Claudine Van Gonka, San Diego Blood Bank Director of Community Relations and Marketing. “We also stand ready to help other blood centers if needed, so we need individuals and groups to donate at one of our 8 donation locations or existing mobile drives as soon as possible.”

To date, SDBB has a 3-day or less supply of most blood types on the shelves. A 7–10-day supply is considered ample.

To be eligible to donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 114 pounds, and be in general good health. Eligible blood donors are encouraged to schedule an appointment at

SanDiegoBloodBank.org or calling 1-800-4-MY-SDBB (1-800-469-7322).