Donate Blood: Upcoming Inova Blood Drives Around Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — January marks National Blood Donor Month, and the need for blood donations continues at Inova Blood Donor Services.

Inova Blood Donor Services estimates it must collect 200 units of must collect 200 units of blood, platelet, plasma and double red cells a day to meet the needs of the community. As of Jan. 4, the red blood cell inventory is below the desired levels for most blood types. Donated blood has a shelf life of 42 days while donated platelets have a shelf life of five days.

To facilitate the donation process, Inova Blood Donor Services has donor centers (CentreMed Donor Center in Centreville, Dulles Donor Center in Sterling and Woodburn Donor Center in Annandale) as well as mobile blood drives. Donating blood during the COVID-19 pandemic is considered safe, as staff take extra precautions and use approved cleaning and disinfectant products daily.

All successful blood donations are also tested for the COVID-19 antibody, which can tell if you had a past infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. Anyone who had a positive COVID-19 test and has been symptom-free for at least 14 days may be eligible to donate convalescent plasma. This plasma may be helpful to COVID-19 patients actively fighting COVID-19 and is being studied by Inova.

Below we've rounded up the upcoming blood drives in and around Alexandria. You can also check for appointment times at Inova donor centers or check Red Cross blood drives.

U.S. Patent & Trademark Office Bloodmobile: 501 Dulany Street, Alexandria, VA 22314

Jan. 7, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

National Harbor McDonald's BLOODMOBILE: 121 North Cove Terrace, Oxon Hill, MD 20745

Jan. 18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library bloodmobile: 5005 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22304

Jan. 21, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Old Town Blood Drive Cameron St Bloodmobile: 301 Cameron Street, Alexandria, VA 22314

Jan. 25, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Inova Alexandria Hospital Bloodmobile, located near Visitors Entrance and Health & Education Center: 4320 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA 22304

Jan. 28, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

U.S. Patent & Trademark Office Bloodmobile: 501 Dulany Street, Alexandria, VA 22314

Feb. 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.