Minority Donors

Minority Donors Have a Unique Power to Help Local Minority Patients In Need

Black and Hispanic donors are urgently needed to help patients for specially matched transfusions. Donors with genetically-similar blood are more likely to be a match for patients from the same ethnic  background—which means fewer complications and a better outcome for the patient. 

Minority blood donors are essential for a diverse supply of blood because they provide greater access to corresponding phenotypes, often rare  ones, required for individuals with diseases such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia.

• Although blood compatibility is not based on race, rare blood types often are.  Numerous blood subtypes exist within certain populations.
  
  
• Because there are some rare blood antigens that are unique to African-Americans, in many cases, an African-American’s blood is a better match for an African-American patient.

Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder that causes the body to make abnormal hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells. The abnormal hemoglobin collects inside red blood cells and damages the cells. Damaged cells are hard and sticky, and they clump together and block blood flow through blood vessels.

Nationally, one in 13 African Americans are born with the Sickle Cell Trait (SCT); and one in 365 develops the disease. Locally, more than 350 Greater Cincinnatians live with the disease every day. There is no known cure for the disease. 

Sickle cell disease can cause anemia and pain, as well as damage to many organs, including the heart, lungs, kidneys and brain. Treatment for sickle cell disease decreases these conditions. The treatment, or management of Sickle Cell Anemia, aims to relieve episodes of pain and the relief of symptoms. Treatments might include medications and blood transfusions.

Best outcomes for sickle cell patients receiving blood transfusions is when they receive blood from a  donor with a similar genetic background. Blood donors of African descent are more likely to have proteins on their red blood cells that are similar to proteins of sickle cell patients. Receiving that blood makes sickle cell patients less likely to develop reactions against donated blood cells.

• One in 12 African Americans carry the trait for sickle cell disease.
• One in 652 African Americans have sickle cell anemia.
• African-American sickle cell patients who frequently need blood transfusions are less likely to have adverse reactions when receiving blood donated from other African Americans.
• Silent strokes, which frequently go unrecognized are the most devastating complications associated with Sickle Cell Disease.
• Of the 5% of eligible Americans who donate blood nationally, less than one percent are African American.

M.O.R.E. Mission

To increase awareness about Hoxworth Blood Center, and the importance of increasing blood donations from MORE minorities, to help support our community’s blood supply.

M.O.R.E. Vision

To see our community’s blood supply reflect the diversity of the community.

The ability to meet the needs of the hospitals and patients that we serve is dependent upon the participation and contribution of diverse volunteer blood donors by merging efforts, building relationships with partners such as:

• Allen Temple AME Church
• Beta Iota Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.  
• Black Family Reunion
• Cincinnati State and Technical Community
• Clark Montessori
• Corinthian Baptist Church
• Cincinnati Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
• Delta Gamma Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
• Lincoln Heights Missionary Bapstist Church
• MLK Coalition
• Mt. Zion Baptist Church Glendale
• Mt. Zion Baptist Church Woodlawn
• Phi Psi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.                
• The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

Click here to view all of our mission partners.

• Increasing minority donations is important  because blood types O and B– (the types of about 70% of African-Americans) are the blood types most in demand.  Those types are usually the first to run out during a blood shortage.
• Some African-American patients have rare blood types and patients with these rare blood types must depend on other African-Americans to supply life saving blood.
• African-Americans are also at greater risk than Caucasians for cancer, heart disease and birth complications — all of which often require blood transfusions.