Red Cross

Demand for Blood

A-Positive, A-Negative, B-Positive, B-Negative, O-Positive, O-Negative, AB-Positive, AB-Negative

The American Red Cross states that in the United States, someone needs blood every two seconds, and someone needs platelets every thirty seconds.[94] There is not a consistent demand for each blood type. One type of blood being in stock does not guarantee that another type is. Blood banks may have some units in stock but lack others, ultimately causing the patients that need units for specific blood types to have delayed or canceled procedures.