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 Founded
in 1962, the Blood Bank of Alaska’s primary purpose is to
supply blood needs for the sick and injured of Alaska. Blood
is
provided entirely by volunteer donors throughout the state. As
Alaska has grown, so has the demand for available blood products.
The first
year of operation required only 682 pints of blood while the demand
for the current year is projected at over 25,000 units. One reason
for this increase is advances in medical and surgical care within
the state. The Blood Bank of Alaska is committed to keeping pace
with the demands of providing 24 hour service to over 24 Alaskan
hospitals spanning over half a million square miles.
In 1995, the Blood Bank of Alaska opened its Mat-Su
Center in Wasilla, and in 1999, the Kenai Peninsula Center in Soldotna.
Subsequently, our first self-contained mobile collection unit,
the “LIFEmobile”, was purchased entirely through community
funding. In 2005, the Fairbanks Center opened its doors to the
community. Other expanded services include a blood irradiator,
and a state-of-the-art Blood Information System. For the past five
years, the Blood Bank of Alaska has placed an emphasis on mobile
collections, using both LIFEmobile and portable equipment, which
can be set up in churches, schools and offices. To continue the
Blood Bank of Alaska’s initiative of increasing blood collections,
its services must expand.
The Blood Bank of Alaska is licensed by the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
and is inspected and accredited by the Clinical Lab Improvement
Association (CLIA) and the American
Association of Blood Banks (AABB). It is also a member of America’s
Blood Centers (ABC) and a charter member of the Pacific Northwest
Alliance of Blood Banks. The alliance includes: Blood Bank of Alaska, Blood
Bank of Hawaii, Inland Northwest
Blood Center in Spokane,
Washington; Lane Memorial
Blood Bank in Eugene, Oregon; and Puget
Sound Blood Center in Seattle.
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