Lackland Blood Donor Center ensures safety of USCENTCOM blood products Published June 30, 2010 By Senior Airman Nicole Mickle 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Blood donor center staff here are making a difference in the quality of blood products used in overseas and battlefield areas. The Lackland Blood Donor Center tests all blood donor samples for more than 50 sites in the United States Central Command. The testing focuses on preventing transfusion-transmitted diseases in the USCENTCOM area of responsibility. Blood donor testing for USCENTCOM started here in March 2006. Five to six thousand samples are received from USCENTCOM each year for testing. "Whole blood and apheresed platelet transfusions are rising rapidly to an all time high in the Afghan theater," said Col. Richard McBride, director, Joint Theater Blood Program, USCENTCOM. "The Lackland Blood Donor Center continues to play a key role in ensuring the safety of our theater blood supply." The samples sent here are platelet and whole blood prescreens. The blood donor center also tests platelets and whole blood samples from emergency blood drives in USCENTCOM for infectious diseases. USCENTCOM prescreens their donors which prevents anyone from donating who isn't qualified due to a disease or other determining factors. The samples are then shipped frozen to Lackland five to six days a week and are tested. The testing turnaround time is usually less than one duty day. "We test the samples sent to us from USCENTCOM before ours to make sure we make the turnaround time goal," said Mr. Robert Purkhiser, technical director at the blood donor center. The testing turnaround time has resulted in all platelet donors being Food and Drug Administration compliant and fully tested before they are allowed to donate. Also, 100 percent of all platelet specimens and fresh warm whole blood donor specimens are tested after transfusion. "To have this kind of support in an active combat zone is nothing short of amazing," said Colonel McBride. "Go back five years and compare testing turnaround time, percentage tested and even reporting stats. It's a complete turnaround and simply amazing." Samples from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, are also tested here and have a testing turnaround time of usually less than 12 hours. "It's our pleasure to help however we can," said Mr. Purkhiser. "It's very gratifying for our staff to be a part of ensuring our deployed military members receive the best blood products possible." USAF. (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Rosario "Charo" Gutierrez) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res USAF. (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Rosario "Charo" Gutierrez)