History
History of the Coastal Bend Blood Center

The Coastal Bend Blood Center, established in 1969, is an independent, non-profit 501(c)(3), community service organization committed to unifying, centralizing and consolidating blood donor services in the Coastal Bend. These services include donor recruiting, community education, drawing, processing and distribution. An effective and efficient organization, more than 90% of the Blood Center's annual expenditures go directly to program services to benefit the community. 
 
In the beginning, the Blood Center drew 6,000 donors annually. Today, approximately 30,000 caring individuals volunteer as donors each year. These donors enable the Blood Center to provide services to 12 medical facilities in its 10-county service area of Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Duval, Jim Wells, Kleberg, Live Oak, Nueces, Refugio and San Patricio. Bloodmobiles operate seven days a week to ensure that hospital and patient needs are met in this large geographical area.
 
During the years since its inception, the Blood Center has seen considerable growth and regulatory changes. The Blood Center is a federally licensed and accredited facility and, as such, is responsible for meeting and exceeding the requirements and standards set forth by the Food and Drug Administration and the AABB (formerly the American Association of Blood Banks). 
 
In addition, the Coastal Bend Blood Center is also a member of America’s Blood Centers, South Central Association of Blood Banks and the Texas Hospital Association.
 
Advancing Technology

The Blood Center is constantly working to find ways for donors to provide the greatest impact on the community. 
 
Apheresis is a special blood donation that separates blood components while the blood is drawn instead of in a laboratory following the donation. This technology allows donors to maximize their contribution by focusing on the donation of one or more specific blood components at a given time. In addition, this process gives the donor back the blood components which are not targeted for retention. 
 
This process is often used to retrieve platelets—cell fragments that aid in blood clotting. One apheresis donation can produce approximately six times the number of platelets obtained through a whole blood donation. This benefits patients suffering from leukemia, aplastic anemia and other blood disorders and patients undergoing chemotherapy or bone marrow transplants. 
 
The addition of red cell automated donation is another advancement for the Blood Center that benefits both donors and recipients. In this process, a donor is able to give twice the amount of red blood cells normally collected in a single whole blood donation. Other components, like plasma and platelets, are returned to the donor during the process. This is a great alternative for donors who currently donate two or three times a year because it allows them to give twice the amount with the same number of visits. 
 
The Coastal Bend Blood Center is a proud partner in overseeing the healthcare of the Coastal Bend and will continue to do its part to guarantee that the area's blood needs are met.