Category: Blood

With the advent of disease-modifying Alzheimer’s drugs, everyone in the world of Alzheimer’s diagnostics is bracing for the crush. Based on their ability to slow cognitive decline, the Eisai/Biogen drug Leqembi won full approval from the FDA this month, and donanemab by Eli Lilly could be approved by year end. Clinicians now have to decide which patients are most suitable for treatment, which means better Alzheimer’s tests need to be developed. advertisement “There’s going to be capacity issues because there’s just not enough neurologists in the world to treat this pool of patients with Alzheimer’s disease at the moment,” said Mark Stearman, a senior international product manager at Roche focusing on Alzheimer’s diagnostics. Currently, diagnosing Alzheimer’s is slow. The standard confirmation test is an amyloid-PET scan, but by the time the disease is evident on the PET scan, the disease has already progressed, said Valerie Daggett, a bioengineering professor at the University of Washington. “A lot has to happen before you get there and you see those deposits,” she said. Enter: blood tests. A glut of these tests — some used in clinical trials for Leqembi and donanemab — have received FDA breakthrough device designation, though none have been authorized yet. Newer tests and biomarkers are even trying to diagnose patients before they develop Alzheimer’s symptoms. advertisement But as the market for these diagnostics opens up and researchers and clinicians increasingly lean upon these biomarkers to diagnose disease, it’s also causing researchers and neurologists to question what exactly Alzheimer’s is. Last week, the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association presented new guidelines redefining Alzheimer’s, partially because of the advent of blood biomarkers. “This is, I think, not the 1 million [dollar], but the 10 million [dollar] question for Alzheimer’s disease: What is Alzheimer’s?” said Tamas Fülöp, a professor of medicine and geriatrics at the University of Sherbrooke in Canada. “Is this only clinical, is this only pathological? Is this both?” Joseph Quinn, a professor of neurology at Oregon Health & Science University, agreed. “The field and the world still has to come to grips with the idea that the pathology in the brain exists even before there are symptoms and exactly how we’re going to describe people who have biomarker evidence of Alzheimer pathology but no symptoms at all.” How it works These blood tests are based on the idea that Alzheimer’s is caused by a protein fragment called beta-amyloid, which eventually clusters into clumps called plaques. Thus, the amount of amyloid people have floating freely in their cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or blood should decrease if they have Alzheimer’s and the beta-amyloid is clumping into plaques. Neurofibrillary tangles are also thought to have a role in Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. These filaments form around neurons when tau proteins become altered by a process called phosphorylation and end up aggregating together. Thus, finding elevated amounts of phosphorylated tau, or ptau, in blood or CSF is also a way to measure Alzheimer’s. Each person has a bit more than a tenth of a liter of cerebrospinal fluid, cushioning and hydrating their brain and spinal cord at any given moment. As one of its functions, the fluid helps carry waste out of the brain — including the bits of proteins used as biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Practitioners can sample a patient’s CSF through a lumbar puncture, which isn’t the ideal or easiest procedure for routine testing. However, the biomarkers in the CSF are clear and strong enough that this procedure can be used to confirm an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. CSF releases its waste cargo into the bloodstream for further breakdown and elimination, which means those same biomarkers can be detected in blood. But they get diluted in the bloodstream, since a person has about five liters of blood, about 40 times as much volume as a person’s CSF. One reason these blood tests can’t be run at individual doctor’s offices and are currently evaluated at either a company’s centralized facility — in the case of St. Louis-based C2N Diagnostics, for example — or centralized labs with trained staff on the company’s instruments, as in the case of Roche or biomarker analysis company Quanterix, is that these dilute bits of amyloid and ptau are hard to detect. “Whereas in the CSF, it’s a nice clean fluid that you can measure, in the blood it’s a bit of a minestrone soup and we are measuring these compounds at very low concentrations with lots and lots of background noise because there’s so many other proteins in the blood,” said Stearman at Roche. “So it is challenging to take these samples into the blood.” The need Because Leqembi and the Lilly antibody donanemab both aim to get rid of amyloid, patients need to confirm that they have amyloid buildup before they’re eligible for the treatment. That means they will need both a scan to get diagnosed, and to monitor if the treatment is working, which is more than the current number of scans the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services covers: one. But just last week, CMS proposed eliminating one hurdle to PET access — loosening its previous policy to allow patients to get multiple scans, and get them outside of the context of a clinical trial. The trouble is there are only about 2,000 PET centers in the United States, and they’re heavily booked, said Masoud Toloue, CEO of Quanterix, which makes an Alzheimer’s blood test. Using simpler screenings to decrease the barriers to getting an Alzheimer’s diagnosis could make it easier to get people treatment earlier in the course of the disease, said Maria Glymour, chair of the epidemiology department at Boston University, in an email to STAT. She warned this would pay off only if healthy people are not incorrectly diagnosed with the disease, and if there are Alzheimer’s treatments with substantial, long-term benefits. “As of today, we have treatments with clear evidence of a small, short-term benefit. We don’t have good evidence on whether the short-term benefit stays

In less time than it takes you to watch your favorite sitcom, you could save up to three lives. “Donating blood usually only takes about 15 minutes, and you get to sit in a comfy chair,” said Marisa Pacchiarotti, district community development director for LifeSouth Community Blood Centers. “And you get to leave knowing you just helped someone’s life.” Blood banks across the country are experiencing a shortage. The American Red Cross collected close to 50,000 fewer blood donations than it needed over the last two months. Donations often slow during the summer, when many people are traveling. Yet the need for donors continues to grow. Pacchiarotti said only a fraction of those who can give blood do so on a regular basis. “Of the 40% of people eligible to donate blood, only 3% give regularly, and about 10% give once a year,” she said. “Our big push is getting people to become regular blood donors.” Unlike medications and other life-saving devices, blood cannot be produced in a lab or factory, Pacchiarotti said. “Blood is as vital as any other resource, and it has to be given,” she said. The need is so vast because 1 in 3 people will need a blood transfusion at some point in their lives, and a single car accident victim can need up to 100 pints of blood, according to OneBlood. Blood helps treat trauma patients, burn victims, and people with cancer and chronic diseases, according to the American Red Cross. “Blood donation is such an easy way to make an impact in the community,” said Susan Forbes, senior vice president of corporate communications and public relations for OneBlood. “When you donate, you are helping give someone a second chance at life. There is no greater gift than to give someone’s life back.” The donations that do come in get used quickly. Forbes said. If you donate in the morning, it gets tested that evening and is given to a patient within one or two days. “Today’s donor is tomorrow’s hero,” she said. “You have the power to save someone’s life running through your veins.” Often, more people give blood in the wake of large-scale emergencies like natural disasters, but Forbes said the blood supply needs to be replenished every day. “In an instant, any one of us could be on the receiving end of a blood transfusion,” she said. “Don’t wait for an emergency to donate.” The nation’s blood supply dropped drastically in 2020 at the start of the pandemic because of canceled blood drives and closed collection centers. Unfortunately, Forbes said, the supply has yet to bounce back from that deficit. OneBlood’s donations go to more than 250 hospitals across the southeast. LifeSouth has a contract with UF Health, so its hospitals get their blood products, Pacchiarotti said. Blood transfusions are one of the most common procedures in hospitals, so you could be helping a neighbor at any time. “Of course, blood is needed for surgeries and after accidents, but there are patients like those with sickle cell anemia or patients going through cancer treatment who need regular, sometimes monthly, blood transfusions,” she said. Sickle cell anemia is a lifelong disease that alters the shape of red blood cells, making it harder for people to absorb nutrients, and it can be painful. Chemotherapy destroys platelets, and patients often get blood and platelet transfusions during treatment. Lee Ouellette, of the Village of Bonita, is a regular blood donor who gives every eight weeks — the shortest time period allowed between donations. Ouellette has donated blood since he was a teenager and has given more than 30 gallons over the years. “I guess now it’s just habitual, it’s nothing more than feeling good about the fact that perhaps I’m saving someone’s life,” he said. “There’s never a moment where I don’t think I’ll give blood. I’ll donate for as long as I can.” Ouellette advises potential donors to eat well at least four hours before donating and stay hydrated before and after. “It’s no worse than a really tough pinch, and it goes away pretty quickly,” he said. “Then you are on your way to helping people.” Another benefit of donating blood is the health screening that comes with it. “You get a mini physical,” Pacchiarotti said. “You get your heart rate and blood pressure, then a few days later you get your cholesterol and iron levels.” You also are told your blood type, she said, which is something many people do not know about themselves. “There are eight blood types and some are more rare than others,” she said. “If you find out you have a blood type that’s in high demand, it might make you more inclined to become a regular donor.” Blood types can be complex, but Pacchiarotti tells patients it all comes down to what traits your body can accept. The eight blood types are A positive, A negative, B positive, B negative, O positive, O negative, AB positive and AB negative. The three letters represent antigens — A, B and O. The O type blood shows an absence of either A or B antigens, and AB blood means both are present on red blood cells. “The positive and negative aspects represent a protein called Rh factor,” Pacchiarotti said. “Positive blood types have this protein.” Pacchiarotti said your blood type determines what other types of blood your body can accept. If you have A negative, for example, your body will only accept A negative or O negative blood types. “Because O negative blood is absent both antigens and proteins, it is called the universal donor and it can be given to someone of any blood type,” Pacchiarotti said. “It also means it is the most requested by hospitals.” During an emergency, doctors do not have time to type someone’s blood, so surgery rooms and ambulances need to be stocked with O negative blood. “The blood supply is easily taken for granted,” Forbes said. “Somebody is depending on it —

Singer Ozzy Osbourne stopped by the SiriusXM radio show Ozzy Speaks to share some news with host Billy Morrison. During the show, Osbourne gave a health update about his blood clots, saying he’s doing alright and the news sounds worse than it is. Videos by American Songwriter Fans can see a clip of the show, which airs again on July 27 at 5 p.m. ET, below. And see below for a transcript of Osbourne and Morrison’s exchange about the former Black Sabbath frontman. Billy Morrison: How are you mate? Ozzy Osbourne: I’m battling through, like for instance last Monday, I went to have a filter removed and I went- Billy Morrison: You texted me that. What’s a filter? Ozzy Osbourne: When I had the blood clots in my legs, they put a filter in your artery to stop the blood clots going to your heart and your brain. It sounds worse than it is. Billy Morrison: It sounds terrible. [Related: Ozzy Osbourne Cancels Upcoming Concert at Power Trip Festival] Ozzy Osbourne: So, on Monday I went to have it removed. The blood clots have jammed you all up. It’s just disappointment after disappointment. Just get this thing fucking done so I can go get on with my life. Billy Morrison: What a pain in the ass. I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Ozzy Osbourne: So, they put a thing down there in my neck, straight down to my groin. Billy Morrison: What? Inside you? Ozzy Osbourne: Oh yeah. Billy Morrison: Oh my God. They put you out? Ozzy Osbourne: Oh yeah. Bing. Billy Morrison: We like that bit. Ozzy Osbourne: Yeah, but they can’t even find a vein on me. Billy Morrison: Ozzy, I had them send in for specialists to try and get a vein on me. Ozzy Osbourne: Do you have that thing where they put a scan on you and find one inside? Billy Morrison: Yeah, but then they’ve actually gotta get it and I always, do you ever have this? They go, “Right. Show me your arm.” I’m like, “Listen, I’ve got more experience than all of you put together.” Ozzy Osbourne: You know what, you ain’t gonna get that vein. Listen bro- Billy Morrison: Leave it to me. Ozzy Osbourne: I knew this for all days. Billy Morrison: I’m the professional here. “Yeah, alright. Go on then,” and 14 stabs later they’re listening to me. Ozzy Osbourne: You look like you’ve been fucking attacked. Billy Morrison: I hate it. Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images

The Summit County Sheriff’s report. A woman who was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of driving under the influence reportedly had a blood alcohol content more than five times the legal limit. Summit County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to an accident in the Jeremy Ranch area around 8:40 p.m. on Sunday, according to a report from the Sheriff’s Office. When deputies arrived, they found a woman had crashed her vehicle head-on into a parked pickup truck on Lower Lando Lane. Deputies said the woman admitted to drinking six beers 30 minutes prior to the accident. She displayed signs of impairment and refused to participate in a standardized field sobriety test. The woman was arrested for suspected DUI. She was also charged with driving without insurance when she was taken into custody. Open containers of alcohol were located during an inventory of the vehicle. Deputies also obtained a breath test for the woman after she arrived at the Summit County Jail. Her blood alcohol content was determined to be .28, according to the report. The legal limit in Utah is .05, which is the lowest of any state. The Sheriff’s Office responded to several other calls between Monday, July 17, and Sunday, July 23, including reports of vehicle burglary, theft and lost hikers. Friday, July 21 Summit County Search and Rescue was dispatched to Alexander Lake in the Uinta Mountains. An individual texted Summit County Dispatch advising them her husband was experiencing heart problems. Deputies and emergency medical services attempted to reach the couple but had to turn around due to the terrain. Search and Rescue responded and located the man, who said he was only having a “panic attack.” Thursday, July 20 Domestic violence was reported in Coalville. A woman called 911 to report her husband had assaulted her and left on foot. A short time later, the husband called to report that his wife, the original caller, had assaulted him. Deputies investigated, but were unable to determine who the predominant aggressor was. The woman left the home with a child. The Summit County Attorney’s Office will screen the case for charges against both parties. Theft was reported in Silver Creek. A business owner reported a generator was stolen sometime between 5 p.m. on Wednesday and 11 a.m. on Thursday. The chain was cut and the equipment was taken. The case remains open pending follow-up. Search and Rescue responded to a subdivision in Oakley, where an elderly man was reported to be overdue from a hiking trip in the Adax Lake area. The man was found to be in good health and escorted back to his vehicle. Deputies recovered a vehicle stolen out of Kamas on Wednesday. The vehicle was located at a fast food restaurant in Kimball Junction. It was running, and in gear, but unoccupied. Deputies processed the vehicle on scene and the registered owner took possession of it. No new information was discovered about the suspect, who remains unknown. A suspicious vehicle was reported at a Jeremy Ranch gas station after normal operating hours. Deputies made contact with the driver and noticed the strong smell of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. A subsequent search revealed a small amount of weed and drug paraphernalia, which were booked into evidence. The driver was issued a citation and released. A domestic disturbance was reported in Tollgate Canyon. Deputies made contact with a woman who was heavily intoxicated and not cooperative when she was asked about the incident. A man in the home stated he was punched by the woman multiple times after he refused to let her leave with her car keys. The man had a puncture mark from the car keys the woman was holding. Deputies determined the woman was the predominant aggressor. She was arrested. Dispatch received a call from someone who claimed to be a 17-year-old girl. She said she had just given birth in her home a few hours prior, and wanted to give the child up. The caller provided little to no information that helped the Sheriff’s Office or medical personnel assist her. Deputies determined the call was likely a hoax after hours of investigation and piecing together evidence, and discontinued the call. Wednesday, July 19 Auto theft was reported in Kamas. The vehicle was last seen headed toward Main Street. Deputies responded to intercept the vehicle. However, the driver fled and a pursuit ensued. The suspect was followed to the Jeremy Ranch area, and rammed a marked patrol vehicle. The individual then fled on Interstate 80, traveling the wrong way. Deputies were unable to locate the vehicle at the time and terminated the pursuit. The vehicle was listed as stolen. Law enforcement in the Salt Lake Valley was alerted about the situation. Search and Rescue was contacted by a group in the lower Red Castle Lake area after a member of the party had been missing for two hours. The individual returned to camp safely before Search and Rescue arrived at the scene. A traffic stop was initiated in Wanship. Deputies noticed the smell of raw marijuana coming from the vehicle after they approached the driver. They conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle and located a small amount or marijuana. The driver was issued a citation and released. Counterfeit money was reported at a gas station in Coalville. Store employees reported they received the fake cash from an individual who was paying a tow fee. Deputies collected the money and booked it into evidence. The case is open pending further investigation. Monday, July 17 Deputies were notified by a detective with the Unified Police Department about an incident at Soapstone Campground. A third party reported a woman was assaulted by her husband during a camping trip. The suspect was reported to be traveling out of state to visit relatives. Deputies were attempting to contact the woman. The originating deputy planned to follow up. Theft was reported at a truck stop in Silver Creek. The suspect is believed to

Benjamin Netanyahu finally disengaged on Monday from the democratic, liberal, progressive, enlightened, and Western Israel of which he used to boast at the UN General Assembly. Meanwhile, he made a blood pact with the racist, messianic, ultra-Orthodox and nationalist State of Judea. This group will bring sure destruction upon him, but the sane majority can find no joy in this; a similar fate awaits the country itself. It’s quite possible that the law passed on Monday will in some way save Netanyahu from his corruption trial. He will now be able to challenge the Supreme Court, depose the attorney general, and appoint a “general prosecutor” to prosecute his cases. It’s good news for him. He may be saved. But in every other respect, it does nothing for him. For Netanyahu, there is no way back. In mid-October, after the Knesset returns from its recess, he will advance legislation enabling the Haredim to avoid conscription – the Basic Law on Torah Study. What makes Israel what it is? Perpetual yeshiva students or a productive population contributing to the economy and serving in the military? When this legislation is completed, Netanyahu will next enact a restructuring of the Judicial Appointments Committee. No one will be surprised if more judicial overhaul legislation emerges later on. His allies are hungry. Protesters and police during anti-judicial overhaul protests in central Israel on Tuesday.Credit: Rami Shllush It will happen whether he wants it or not. Netanyahu is no longer the master of the house in his government and coalition. On Monday, we saw on live television who’s really running the show: Itamar Ben-Gvir, Yariv Levin, and Simcha Rothman. The prime minister is entirely passive. Never have we seen such a disgraceful display of weakness and impotence. Maybe that’s how he interpreted his doctors’ advice not to exert himself. In this cowardly silence, there was a choice: between Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Chief of Staff Herzl Halevi (whom Netanyahu refused to meet before voting) on one side and Levin’s gang and the fascists on the other. He chose the latter. By the way, while Netanyahu couldn’t find time to meet Halevi, he had time for the right-wing commentator Jacob Bardugo. After their meeting, the chauvinist macher tweeted about the attorney general, “Gali [Baharav-Miara] will be fired.” The chaos that was celebrated in the plenary is a perfect illustration of how this government of destruction and lawlessness functions. A bitter debate exploded between Gallant, who warned that the military was falling apart on his watch, and Levin, the father of the government coup tearing the country apart. The first begged for some leniency. The other stuck to his guns. Gallant acted contemptibly. He voted “yes” under threat of dismissal, after ending the Knesset’s winter session in March a hero, with Levin as a politician with clipped wings. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in the Knesset before the vote to abolish the reasonableness standard on Monday.Credit: Olivier Fitoussi On Monday, they swapped roles. In the middle, meanwhile, the supposed leader sat, detached, staring, indifferent. It’s what Menachem Begin looked like in the twilight of his career, when he was gripped by depression. The scene reminded me of cartoons where the devil sits on one shoulder of the hero and an angel on the other. It was also a reminder of what a failure Netanyahu is in making decisions. He always does it at the last minute – sometimes after the last minute. It’s always conditioned on the intensity of the threat he faces. A multiple organ system failure is happening on his watch – in the military, the economy, high-tech, foreign relations and society – and he’s doing nothing. Netanyahu is the master of exploiting successes and appropriating others’ achievements. When a law that’s important to him is passed (the Nation-State Law, for example), he doesn’t miss an opportunity to go up to the podium and celebrate. On Monday, one minute after the Knesset – with only the votes of the coalition – passed the law banning courts’ use of the reasonableness standard in its most extreme form, he escaped like a rabbit. Bibi ran away. Left behind to celebrate with selfies were the settlers and Likudniks. Then, Levin went up to the podium and announced that the new law was “the first step in a historic process to reform the judicial system.” “Reform” – this was the term used by the man who pushed for barring the reasonableness standard to keep the Supreme Court from ordering him to convene the Judicial Appointments committee, to dodge naming justices to the Supreme Court, and to fail to appoint dozens of judges to the magistrate’s and district courts, where the burden placed on an understaffed bench is inhumane. The right loves to recall protests over the Gaza disengagement as a mirror image (completely distorted) of what is happening today. Back then, after the Knesset had approved the Disengagement Law, its supporters did not rejoice in the Knesset. They tried to be human, not to be cold-hearted, aloof, and cruel like the lawmakers we saw on Monday. Protesters in Tel Aviv light a bonfire on Ayalon Highway after the passage of a key judicial overhaul bill on Monday.Credit: Itai Ron As the day drew to a close, the prime minister spoke in a live broadcast. Suddenly, we saw a responsible political leader. It was as though he hadn’t been implanted with a pacemaker but with a spoonful of sugar. As usual, he lied, manipulated, and obfuscated matters. We passed the “reasonableness amendment,” he said, “so that Israeli governments can implement policies.” He’s been prime minister for 16 years. Has he never implemented a policy initiative? How did Israel reach these heights? “None of our compromise proposals was accepted,” he lied. “Even today, up to the last minute, we tried … but the other side persistently refused.” The so-called attempt was a deceptive and lousy piece of propaganda. And if he wanted so much and longed for compromise, why did he bother

All humans have a diverse set of blood stem cell types which dictate the composition and function of our blood and immune cells and ultimately help govern overall health. Older people tend to lose this diversity of blood stem cells, which can make them more susceptible to blood cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and all-cause mortality. But exactly when and how this diverse group of stem cells first arise has been unclear. A group of researchers at Yale School of Medicine has found that levels of diversity of blood stem cells are determined during the development of the embryo, they report July 17 in the journal Nature Cell Biology. They also found that stem cell levels can be manipulated during childhood, suggesting ways that blood composition might be improved, and overall health monitored throughout life. “The findings are quite powerful,” said Stefania Nicoli, associate professor in internal medicine and genetics at Yale School of Medicine and senior author of the paper. Scientists had thought that this diversity of stem cells arose later in development with the formation of bone marrow. However, Joey Ghersi, a postdoctoral associate in Nicoli’s lab, working in collaboration with Christopher Sturgeon at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, showed that different types of blood stem cells were determined very early in development. “And each of us maintain this level of diversity through adulthood,” Nicoli said. “This varying level of blood stem cell diversity can be ‘programmed’ and may help to change susceptibility to cardiovascular and immune diseases.” For example, Nicoli and colleagues manipulated levels of one microRNA within embryonic endothelial cells that line blood vessels and enhanced production of blood stem cells that increase the level of red blood- and T-cells in zebrafish and human pluripotent stem cells. “The zebrafish with manipulated blood stem cells remained healthy through life,” Nicoli said. As more is learned about how stem cell populations affect health, the ability to manipulate those populations will become more important in healthcare, Nicoli predicted.

QuidelOrtho has recalled nearly 8,000 potentially faulty blood tests meant to help doctors quickly determine whether a patient is having a heart attack. The tests inaccurately showed low levels of troponin, a protein that indicates damage to the heart. A false negative could lead doctors to mistakenly conclude their patient is not having a heart attack, delaying diagnosis or treatment when time is of the essence. advertisement The device maker, which also sells products like the QuickVue Covid-19 antigen test, sent letters to health systems in May telling them to immediately stop using the test. The Food and Drug Administration classified the recall as serious, because problems with the product could result in serious injury or death. QuidelOrtho has reported 41 complaints, but no injuries or deaths so far. The tests, which use either a blood or plasma sample, promise to return results in under half an hour. They are used in emergency rooms to triage patients suspected of having a heart attack. The FDA said the patients most at risk are those with zero or abnormal heart attack symptoms, for whom a diagnosis would be easy to miss without an accurate lab test. advertisement The company advised using a different testing method to detect heart attacks. If none are available, doctors should be extra wary of the blood panel’s readings, perform multiple tests to confirm low troponin levels, and also reference data from EKGs and other imaging. San Diego-based QuidelOrtho said the error is due to a “raw material issue” in its recall record. The issue caused the test to falsely pick up 30% less troponin than is present. The company did not respond to STAT’s request for more information on the error. The test maker’s last serious recall was in 2021 for reports of false negatives from its Lyra PCR Covid-19 test when used with certain lab equipment. The notice impacted more than 18,000 test kits.

#inform-video-player-1 .inform-embed { margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px; } #inform-video-player-2 .inform-embed { margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px; } Freeman Hospital West will host a blood drive for the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday in its conference rooms, 1102 W. 32nd St. The blood center is the sole provider of blood and plasma products to area hospitals. Individuals donating blood will receive a free ice cream voucher and a “Chillin’ in the Ozarks” T-shirt, while supplies last. To avoid wait times, appointments are strongly encouraged. Call 417-227-5006 or visit cbco.org/donate-blood to schedule an appointment. #inform-video-player-3 .inform-embed { margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px; }

Sponsored by: Calaveras, CA– A nationwide emergency blood shortage has created a critical need for blood donations. The Calaveras Community Foundation (CCF) has partnered with Vitalant to collect blood donations. The donation process is straightforward, taking just around an hour to complete. Preparing for your donation is easy. Step one: make an appointment by visiting donors.vitalant.org and use the blood drive code SMFM399 or scan the provided QR code. Alternatively, you can call 877-258-4825 to schedule your appointment. Step two: on the day of donation, remember to bring a valid photo ID, have a nutritious meal beforehand, and stay hydrated. Donors must be 16 or older, with 16-year-olds requiring a signed Vitalant parent consent form. This month’s blood drive will occur on July 25, 2023, from 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm at the San Andreas Town Hall, located at 24 Church Hill Road. Show your support for the community by participating in this crucial event. The CCF extend their heartfelt gratitude to blood donors. Written by Nic Peterson Sign up for our Breaking News Alerts and the myMotherLode.com Daily Newsletters by clicking here. Report breaking news, traffic or weather to our News Hotline (209) 532-6397. Send Mother Lode News Story photos to [email protected].

The City of Plano held a blood drive with a coinciding competition. The Battle of the Badges encourages Plano residents to donate blood and cast a vote for either the Plano Police Department or the Plano Fire Department. On July 13, the Plano Fire Department was declared the winner via Facebook. There were 433 total votes, with 296 for the fire department and 137 for the police. This is the first win for the fire department since 2006. “Thank you to everyone who participated,” the post reads. “This year’s donations equate to saving over 1,100 lives based on what was collected.” Summer months have fewer blood donation appointments, according to the Stanford Blood Center, because families often travel away during the summer and there are few, if any, school blood drives. “A lot of people are surprised to find out that 25% of the community blood supply is collected through high school blood drives,” Carter BloodCare spokesperson James Black said to CBS News. “So when our student donors are on break, it really has a ripple effect on the overall community blood supply.” The CDC likened the nation’s blood supply to gas in a fuel tank. The blood supply must continually be added to to keep up with the need of hospitals. A US patient needs a blood transfusion every two seconds, according to the CDC, and right now the amount of blood, especially O+ and O- blood, is low. “Each day, the Red Cross must collect nearly 13,000 blood donations for patients at about 2,500 hospitals nationwide,” American Red Cross spokesperson Rodney Wilson said. “This need doesn’t stop for the season, weather, holiday, or a pandemic.”