RWJ University Hospital Somerset Blood Drive To Celebrate PRIDE Month

SOMERVILLE, NJ — Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Somerset will host a community blood drive on Monday, June 3, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. to celebrate PRIDE Month.

RWJUH Somerset’s Babs Siperstein’s PROUD Center offers specialized primary care services to LGBTQ+ adults.

Donors must be 16 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds (120 pounds if 16 years old), and present photo identification. If the donor has a history of viral hepatitis at age 11 or older or is recovering from an infectious illness, they are ineligible to donate.

RWJBarnabas Health revised the System’s blood donor process in October 2023 by introducing the Individual Donor Assessment (IDA) questionnaire, which made donations more inclusive, extending blood donation opportunities to more people. Under the FDA guidelines, all potential donors, irrespective of sexual orientation, gender, or sex, will undergo screening using a modified questionnaire that assesses the risk of HIV based on individual sexual behavior, recent partners, and other relevant factors.

All blood donations undergo comprehensive testing, ensuring their safety for patients by screening for HIV, HTLV, Hepatitis B and C, West Nile Virus, and other bloodborne infectious diseases.

The blood drive will occur at RWJUH Somerset. All donors must register for the blood drive by visiting rwjuhdonorclub.org or calling 908-685-2926. Donors are asked to bring a photo ID and be sure to eat and drink prior to donating.

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