American Red Cross

Red Cross Blood Services is a division of the American Red Cross focused on collecting, processing, and distributing blood and blood products across the United States. Established during World War II, it operates the largest civilian blood program in the country, serving around 2,600 hospitals nationwide. The program began in 1941 to support military and civilian needs, and it has grown to process nearly 7 million blood products annually from approximately 5.1 million donations.

The core service involves collecting blood donations from volunteers, which are transformed into essential products like red blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Red Cross Blood Services also manages a Rare Blood Donor Registry to ensure that patients with uncommon blood types receive the necessary support. The organization emphasizes voluntary blood donation, aligning with humanitarian principles, and has a long history of innovation in blood preservation and transfusion medicine.