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.

To become an autologous or directed blood donor, fax a written order to Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center's Autologous and Directed Program at (713) 790-1782. Your physician can obtain a Request for Autologous/Directed Donation form by calling (713) 791-6608 Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. or download it here. It is the donor's responsibility to make sure the written order is sent to Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center by the physician.

Directed donations can be made at any Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center facility. You must call the location to schedule an appointment for your donation. Autologous blood donations are not accepted at mobile blood drives. 

Autologous Donations must be scheduled at the following locations:

The Blood Center East Texas
3520 N. University Dr., Nacogdoches, TX 75965 | 936-560-3054

Lufkin Neighborhood Donor Center 
202 S. Franklin St., Lufkin, TX 75904 | 936-634-2116

The Blood Center of Brazos Valley 
1015 Krenek Tap Rd, College Station, TX 77840 | 979-764-5600

Bill T. Teague Neighborhood Donation Center 
1400 La Concha Ln Houston, TX 77054 | 713-791-6620

An additional fee is charged for each pint drawn to cover extra processing and administrative costs. These fees are charged to the hospital and will be included in your hospital bill.

Autologous donors must have a hemoglobin level of 12.6g/dL (38% hematocrit). The deferral period for donors with low hemoglobin is currently shortened to one day to give donors time to increase their hemoglobin levels by regularly eating iron-rich foods and incorporating an iron supplement into their routines.