At Gulf Coast Blood, our mission is simple but powerful — to partner with the community to help save and sustain lives by providing a safe supply of blood, biotherapies, and related services. Every day, patients depend on a safe and steady supply of blood, biotherapies, and specialized donation services. By becoming a donor, you make a direct impact on cancer patients, trauma survivors, and individuals with life-threatening conditions.
Explore Your Blood Donation Options
Gulf Coast Blood requires 1,000 donations every day to meet community needs. By committing to donate regularly, you help ensure that blood components are always available when patients’ lives depend on them.
Blood is comprised of three vital components, each playing a crucial role in saving lives:
- Red Blood Cells are essential for patients facing cancer treatment, surgery, or traumatic injuries. Your donation restores strength and supports recovery when it matters most.
- Platelets are crucial for cancer patients and those undergoing bone marrow transplants. Your donation offers hope and improves quality of life during their toughest battles.
- Plasma replaces vital fluids for burn victims and trauma patients. Donating plasma provides the support they need to stabilize, heal, and recover.
Leukopak Donations
These collections of white blood cells are essential for advancing medical research and developing new therapies. By donating leukopaks, you support breakthroughs in areas such as cancer immunotherapy, stem cell research, and treatments for autoimmune diseases. Your contribution directly fuels the discovery of life-changing therapies and future cures.
Autologous and Directed Donations
- Autologous blood transfusion is a procedure in which you are transfused with blood that you have donated only for yourself.
- Directed blood transfusion is a procedure in which the patient is transfused with blood donated explicitly for the patient by a friend or family member, with a doctor's orders.
Therapeutic phlebotomy
(Click here to see the Guide to the Therapeutic Donation Process for full details.)
- Therapeutic Phlebotomy: For individuals with conditions such as polycythemia or porphyria cutanea tarda, therapeutic blood draws are an important part of treatment. By visiting any Gulf Coast Blood facility, you can receive this procedure in a safe and supportive environment while helping manage your health effectively.
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Hemochromatosis Donors: Individuals with hereditary hemochromatosis can safely donate blood under FDA-approved variances. These donations help manage iron levels while also providing lifesaving transfusions for patients in need.
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Testosterone Therapy Donors: Men undergoing testosterone replacement therapy are also eligible to donate blood for transfusion through FDA-approved variances. Your donation ensures a steady blood supply and supports patients who depend on it for recovery.
Watch a Thank You Message from Blood Recipients
Other benefits of donating blood with us include:
- Saving 3 lives with each donation because a whole blood donation can be divided into three components—plasma, platelets and red blood cells.
- Receiving a text message when your donation is on its way to a local health care facility to save lives.
- Earning points that can be redeemed for electronic gift cards for a variety of retailers in our Donor Rewards store.
- Gold members receive one complimentary Advanced Wellness Check per year. Advanced Wellness Check consists of a lipid profile (fasting cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides), which helps determine risk of coronary heart disease. To make arrangements to have your complimentary Advanced Wellness Check at one of our Donor Centers, contact us at (713) 791-6260 or 1(800) 791-1666.
Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look into our operations and learn about the many reasons Gulf Coast Blood is vital to our community.