Windsor Blood Donation Centre to Resume Whole Blood Collection

Canadian Blood Services has announced that the blood donation centre located in the Roundhouse Centre in Windsor will resume collecting whole blood this winter. Since its opening in January 2024, the facility has focused exclusively on collecting blood plasma. However, the centre will expand its services to include whole blood donations once again.

In its first year of operation, the Windsor centre welcomed approximately 2,200 plasma donors. Currently, around 150 individuals donate blood on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. These contributions have been critical for local healthcare services, which rely heavily on a steady supply of blood products.

According to Greg Friest, the business manager for the centre, whole blood has been collected at specialty clinics throughout the community. The final clinic for whole blood donations is scheduled for October 22, 2024. After this date, the Roundhouse Centre will be the primary location for whole blood collection.

While a specific date for resuming whole blood donations at the Roundhouse Centre has not yet been confirmed, Friest indicated that donors will soon be able to make appointments through the blood donation app or the Canadian Blood Services website, blood.ca.

The transition back to whole blood collection is an encouraging development for the Windsor community, as the need for blood remains critical year-round. As the centre gears up for this expansion, officials are hopeful that local residents will continue to show their support through donations.