Albany Blood Donor Center to soon discontinue platelet donations

ALBANY — Officials with the American Red Cross said that the blood donation centers in Albany and Macon would be discontinuing platelet collections after June 19.

“The Red Cross is making some changes to best manage resources,” said Kristen Stancil, external communications manager for the American Red Cross.

After June 19, Stancil said, Albany platelet donors will be invited to donate platelets at the Red Cross Valdosta Blood Donation Center and Macon platelet donors will be invited to donate platelets at the Red Cross Columbus Blood Donor Center. If more convenient, donors can also give whole blood at the Valdosta and Columbus locations as well.

Whole blood donations will still continue after that date in Albany and Macon, but the hours of operation are expected to change soon.

“Whole blood collections will continue at both centers. The hours will change, but we aren’t certain what they will be at this point,” Stancil said Thursday.

In August 2011, it was announced that the center in Albany, located at 1515 Dawson Road, would be closing its doors the following December as a cost control measure. In November 2011, officials announced they were pushing the closure to June 2012 to help address blood shortages caused by weather-related events.

Officials later decided to keep it open for the foreseeable future to maintain its function as a collection site and distribution center for south Georgia.