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The tradition of donating blood started during World War I to support wounded soldiers. During World War II giving blood, like rationing food and fuel, was a way for civilians to contribute to the war effort. This outpouring of generosity was also the inspiration for the founding of Central Blood Bank in 1951 by the Pittsburgh Jaycees and four area physicians.
Central Blood Bank, a not-for-profit organization, was established to serve the transfusion needs of Pittsburgh hospitals. As a 14-staff operation collecting 5,000 units of blood and servicing seven hospitals, that first year Central Blood Bank laid the foundation for a center for excellence in transfusion medicine and an integral partner in the delivery of health care in our region.
Over the past 50-plus years, the geographic region serviced by Central Blood Bank has expanded from metropolitan Pittsburgh to more than 10 counties in western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia, and eastern Ohio. Central Blood Bank currently employs more than 330 dedicated employees who annually collect, test, and distribute 170,000 units of whole blood to more than 40 hospitals and health care facilities in the tri-state area.
By advancing technologies and state-of-the-art programs related to our core values, Central Blood Bank has been a pioneer in the unique space defined as transfusion medicine. The integration of traditional blood services with a reference laboratory for coagulopathies,
clinical laboratories, and scientific and biotech development led to the
establishment of The Institute For Transfusion Medicine(sm), an organization
providing the community with a coordinated approach to the rapidly expanding
field of transfusion medicine.
From the beginning, Central Blood Bank governance has been provided by an
independent and volunteer Board of Directors.
Operating in a highly regulated environment, Central Blood Bank is a licensed
blood collection establishment by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We are
accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) and licensed
by the Commonwealth of the State of Pennsylvania. As such, compliance with
regulations and national standards requires process control in all aspects of
manufacturing.
Our total quality management philosophy emphasizes a commitment to exceed the
expectations of our volunteer blood donors and hospital partners. Our aim is to
be the highest value provider of quality transfusion-related products and
services available.
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