CBCO sounds the alarm: Type O negative blood needed

provided by Community Blood Center of the Ozarks

Donations of type O negative blood are needed, CBCO officials say.

Community Blood Center of the Ozarks is calling on universal blood donors amid a shortage.

Officials with the organization said in a news release yesterday that there's around a day's worth of type O negative blood currently on hand.

“CBCO is currently facing shortages of O negative blood, with reserves at critically low levels. As the sole provider of blood to area hospitals, this shortage has a significant local impact,” said Michelle Teter, CBCO media relations representative, in the release. “With the school year ending, we are relying on our local community-based donors to help maintain an adequate blood supply."

Teter said via email that CBCO currently has roughly 35 units of type O negative blood on its shelves. An ideal supply is 90 units, equating to a three-day supply, she said.

Type O negative blood is considered universal because it can be transfused to people with any of the other three blood types. CBCO officials have previously said type O negative is the greatest need at the blood bank.

CBCO officials said in the release that power outages and storm damage are anticipated to cause some blood drive cancellations and lead to less blood donations, intensifying the current situation.

Earlier this year, CBCO penned a new contract with Labette Health in Parsons, Kansas, according to past reporting. With the contract in place, CBCO is the sole provider to patients at 45 hospitals in southwest Missouri, southeast Kansas and northwest Arkansas.