South Texas Blood & Tissue Center News

The South Texas Blood & Tissue Center, a subsidiary of BioBridge Global, offers a variety of ways for you to stay connected with us. You can read our latest press releases or Annual Reports. Visit the Events Page to find out what’s coming up. You can watch a video clip from a newscast, view past events in the Photo Gallery or read industry news. For the social media enthusiast, the BioBridge family is known as “Connect for Life,” and can be found on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. Also visit the our official blog here.

Media is welcome to contact the Corporate Communications Department for more information. We offer:

  • 
Interviews with experts in their respective medical fields
  • Interviews with Life Links - community members touched by the services of BioBridge Global and its subsidiaries.
  • Informative tours of the facility
Please contact:
Corporate Communications
Phone: (210) 731-5519
Mobile: (210) 296-9026
Email: crd@biobridgeglobal.org

 

Recent News Articles

Blood center needs 600 donations today to fill hospital orders

Orders from area hospitals to South Texas Blood & Tissue Center double, depleting inventory
January 8, 2020

The South Texas Blood & Tissue Center (STBTC) needs 600 donations today or area hospitals may be forced to cancel some surgeries tomorrow, said Elizabeth Waltman, chief operating officer of the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center.

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“We can’t wait for someone else to step up – it’s time for Texans to help Texans,” Waltman said.

The blood center announced Tuesday that 2,160 donations were needed by Friday to meet the needs of patients in South Texas. Only 261 donations were made on Tuesday, short of goal, while orders from hospitals jumped to more than 1,300 units of blood and platelets, more than twice the normal number. There were less than 500 units on the shelf to fill those orders.

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Blood center sets goal to end shortage in South Texas

Growing demand for blood, along with more ineligible donors, puts strain on local blood supply
January 7, 2020

Just seven days into the new year, blood donations in South Texas are already 400 donations behind goal, leaving the community with less than a half-day supply of blood available for patients in area hospitals. 

The South Texas Blood & Tissue Center is asking the community to make 2,160 donations of blood and platelets by Friday, Jan. 10, to end the shortage. A swell of donors pushed the center close to its holiday goal the last two weeks of December, but demand has continued to grow. In fact, the need for blood was 10% higher in the last month of 2019 than the final month of 2018.

With local schools and businesses still on holiday, there were no blood drives scheduled in three of the first seven days of the month, putting a dramatic strain on the blood supply. In addition, the blood center is seeing an increase in the number of donors who are ineligible to give blood. 

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Increasing demand for blood outpacing local collections

South Texas Blood & Tissue issues emergency appeal for donations to boost dangerously low inventories and meet growing patient needs
December 11, 2019
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Although the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center has collected 9% more blood during 2019 than in 2018, the rising demand for blood is exceeding collections, leaving the region with dangerously low inventories, according to Chief Operating Officer Elizabeth Waltman.

“This month we have shipped 12% more blood to hospitals than we have collected,” Waltman said. “Without a significant increase in blood donations, hospitals may have to review each transfusion situation to focus on the most critical needs, delaying transfusions in some cases. With the holidays approaching, we need to get ahead of the situation, because collections typically decline, but patients’ needs do not.” 

While all blood types are needed, the demand is especially high for type O-negative donors. O-negative donors make up just 7% of the population, but because O-negative blood can be used for any patient in an emergency,12% of the orders from South Texas hospitals are O negative.

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‘9 Days of Giving’ offers patients a lifetime of hope

Special blood drives feature restaurant, retail and entertainment gift cards to thank blood donors and prevent a sharp drop in donations over Thanksgiving holiday
November 22, 2019

samantha_cancer_patientAs most of us prepare for family gatherings and travel this Thanksgiving, South Texas patients will remain in hospitals and continue to rely on blood donations. To help prevent a sharp decline in the community blood supply over the holiday, local organizations are working with The South Texas Blood & Tissue Center (STBTC) to schedule special blood drives featuring extra thank-you gifts for donors who make time to give blood from Nov. 23 – Dec. 1.

Patients like Samantha Aguirre, who is battling breast cancer, need blood transfusions throughout their treatment. “Blood donations literally saved my life and it’s because of blood donors that I am here,” she said.  

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South Texas Blood & Tissue Center urges donors to give ahead of flu season

Center helps blood donors with online shopping this holiday season
November 8, 2019

The seasonal flu season is rapidly approaching, and the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center is encouraging all healthy donors to give blood or platelets now, since donations can be accepted only from those who are feeling well.

STBTC is encouraging the community to help maintain an adequate blood supply during flu season as it has the potential to cause a decline in blood donations, since anyone who is sick on the day of donation will be deferred from giving blood. The need for donations is vital as blood donations traditionally decline by 20 percent during the holiday season as high schools and colleges are on winter break and fewer companies schedule blood drives.

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