Founded in 1944, the Blood Bank is open around the clock throughout the year. Since 1989, the Blood Bank has conducted SDP by apherises procedures for bone marrow transplantation and hematology patients. About ten procedures are carried out daily. Since April 1986, all donor blood is screened for AIDS virus antibodies; routine screening for antibodies to HCV began in March 1991.

LABORATORY SERVICE

The Laboratory Service tests patients' blood, provides blood and components for transfusion and performs paternity testing. Approximately one in every 200 patients tested carries an antibody requiring special diagnosis.

Since 1977, Hadassah has been a member of SCARF, the international rare blood exchange program, and the Medical Center's diagnostic sera have been shipped to 50 blood banks in ten countries.