(318) 222-7770

The mission of LifeShare Blood Centers is to provide quality blood, blood components, and related services for use by patients on an efficient cost-effective basis.

In 1942 civic-minded residents who realized a blood bank was needed for emergencies created by WWII founded the Shreveport Memorial Blood Bank. A project endorsed and approved by the Shreveport Medical Society and the Shreveport Chamber of Commerce. During the 70 years since its inception, the blood bank has had different names to reflect its growth. In 1996 the name changed to LifeShare Blood Centers as it remains today.

The mission of LifeShare Blood Centers is to provide quality blood, blood components, and related services for use by patients on an efficient, cost-effective manner.  It is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization governed by a Board of Trustees and employs approximately 525 full- and part-time positions.

LifeShare Blood Centers is regulated and licensed by U.S. Food & Drug Administration and accredited by AABB, a member of the American Rare Donor Program and an affiliate of the National Marrow Donor Program.

LifeShare has ten fixed sites and 21 mobile donor coaches in Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas. Supplying approximately 200,000 blood components a year to more than 117 medical facilities, its regular service area covers 79 counties and parishes with more than 3.7 million people. During that last year, more than 100,000 people donated blood in the communities LifeShare serves.  

LifeShare Blood Centers collects blood from volunteers through whole blood donation and apheresis procedures for select blood components (red cells, plasma and platelets). LifeShare also provides patient treatment procedures such as therapeutic apheresis and mononuclear cell collection, as prescribed by a physician. 

About Blood Donation

Blood donor qualifications

Prospective donors must be at least 17 years old, or 16 years old with written parental permission, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, present identification, be in good health and know the names of any medication they are taking. (The weight requirement slightly increases for female donors 5’ 4” and under due to total blood volume.)  A confidential screening process with questions and vital signs will further confirm eligibility for each type of donation process.

Frequency of blood donation

Whole blood donation: every 56 days (8 weeks)

Apheresis procedures:

            Double red cell every 112 days (16 weeks)

            Plasma every 28 days (4 weeks)

            Platelets every 14 days (2 weeks)

Blood donation process

Types of automated donation processes (Apheresis)

allows a donor to give two units of red cells in just one visit. Though two units of red blood cells are collected, all of the plasma and platelets are returned along with 500 mL of saline. Donating two units takes slightly longer than donating whole blood so the donor should expect the donation itself to take 30 minutes. Donor requirements are to be 130 pounds and 5’ 1” or taller for a male and at least 150 pounds and 5’ 5” tall for a female and the hematocrit level must be at least 40%.

are used to help patients who are undergoing treatment such as leukemia, cancer and aplastic anemia. Without platelets, these patients may have uncontrolled bleeding.

is used to help patients with clotting disorders including liver disease and hemophilia patients, accident victims who are bleeding profusely and burn victims.

After the blood is collected

The blood is separated into components (red cells, platelets and plasma). Every unit of blood is thoroughly tested for type, unexpected antibodies and communicable diseases within approximately 24 – 48 hours.

After tests confirm viability, the blood components are available for compatible patients to use. A person needing blood may have been in an emergency situation such as a car accident or burn victim. Patients often require blood transfusions while receiving cancer treatments, following an organ transplant, having surgery, suffering from sickle cell anemia or clotting disorders.

Donor Benefit Plan

LifeShare Blood Centers reimburses up to $500 per eligible person for processing fees of blood and blood components transfused at any U.S. hospital. Eligible persons are donors, spouses and other tax dependents living in the home. The benefit coverage is effective for one year after the most recent donation date. A Group Benefit option is also available for when at least 40 percent of the group’s members donate within a specified time period. Groups qualifying for the Group Benefit extend the benefit to all members, spouses and tax dependents living in the home. If a group does not reach 40 percent, the donors and families are still covered under the Benefit Plan.