Blood Donor Program
Providing Service with Care and Compassion
Get Involved
If you, your family or friends are interested in donating blood or scheduling a blood drive at your school, place of business or church, call extension 14483 within the hospital, or 314.251.4483.
Mercy is the only hospital in Missouri that is mobile for it's own blood supply. When you give blood or platelets, you give the precious gift of life to someone. Everyday, people of all ages and from all walks of life will unexpectedly need blood. They could be accident victims, cancer patients, someone undergoing surgery, or the tiny babies in the neonatal intensive care unit. They could be someone you know. Your caring spirit and the time given to donate blood can help save someone's life. We value your time and your contribution.
Why Donate?
Your blood donation directly helps the people who need it most. It costs you nothing to give and your donation makes a positive difference in the life of another person.
Can I Give?
To donate blood you have to be between the ages of 16* and 78, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in good health.
Who Will I help?
Your donation will help trauma patients, cancer patients, new moms or other patients fighting any number of illnesses. Donors may also request their blood donation be directed to a specific patient. Read our Directed Donations Fact Sheet for more information. The donor will also need to complete the Directed Donation Request Form.
Learn More About Blood Donation
How much blood does one patient need?
| Heart patients: | 2-8 units of packed red cells |
| Car accident trauma patient: | 4-12 units of packed red cells |
| Cancer patient on chemotherapy: | 6-12 units |
| Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) baby: | 5-10 transfusions of packed red cells |
Monthly usage for Mercy St. Louis and Mercy Washington alone is more than 1,100 units.
Mercy offers the following blood donor services:
- Whole Blood Donor Collection
- Autologous and Directed Blood Collection
- Apheresis Platelet Collection
- Therapeutic Phlebotomy
Donation Facts
- It takes about 10 minutes for your actual blood donation. The start to finish time, signing in, screening, donation and snack, takes about an hour.
- You cannot get AIDS or any other infectious disease by donating blood.
Blood Facts
- One out of three people need donated blood in their life.
- One out of 10 hospital patients needs a blood transfusion.
- Blood is always needed for treatment of accident victims, cancer patients, hemophiliacs and surgery patients.
- There is no substitute for human blood.
Learn More About Blood Donation
Mercy Hospital St. Louis
Main Lobby, Room B-1677
615 S. New Ballas Road
St Louis, MO 63141
Phone: 314.251.4483
Toll Free Number:1.866.37DONOR (1.866.373.6667)
Hours of Operation:
Mon, Wed, Thu: 8:15 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Tue: 5:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Fri: 8:15 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Mercy Hospital Washington
Suite 100
851 E. Fifth Street
Washington, MO 63090
Phone: 636.239.8751
Toll Free Number: 1.866.37DONOR (1.866.373.6667)
Hours of Operation:
Mon: 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Thu: 7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Your time is valuable. To minimize waiting time, please call and make an appointment.
If you come without an appointment, please:
- Know that we will do our best to serve you as quickly as we can
- Be at our collection site at least:
- 1 hour prior to closing time for blood donation
- 2 hours prior to closing time for platelet donation.
