By Alana Mauger

To build awareness around April as Minority Health Month and to commemorate Medical Laboratory Professionals Week (April 23-29), we’re highlighting the role American Red Cross Blood Services plays in treating diseases that disproportionately affect racial and ethnically diverse populations.

Conditions like sickle cell disease, beta thalassemia major and maternal and infant mortality remain higher among communities of color. With blood transfusions remaining one of the most critical treatments for patients, having a strong and diverse blood supply is critical to improving the health of these populations and helping to save lives.

Red Cross Laboratories

The American Red Cross employs more than 2,200 laboratory and manufacturing team members who work at 146 labs and product distribution facilities across the country. Together, they process, test and distribute approximately 6.4 million blood products each year.

Philadelphia is home to two national Red Cross laboratories – The National Reference Laboratory for Specialized Testing (NRLST) and The National Molecular Laboratory (NML) – as well as one of five Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) Testing Labs and one of 45 Immunohematology Reference Laboratories (IRL) in the U.S. All blood products collected in Southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware are processed in Philadelphia’s Manufacturing Lab, which is one of 22 in the country.

Over the past year, Communications volunteers Judith Weeks and Bill Thawley introduced readers to the work of our labs and the technicians who do this work. Revisit their blog posts below:

• Behind the Scenes in the American Red Cross Histocompatibility Laboratory
• Red Cross laboratories and dedicated scientists play a vital role matching lifesaving blood for patients with sickle cell disease

Sickle Cell Initiative

In the U.S., it is estimated that more than 100,000 people have sickle cell disease, which distorts soft and round red blood cells and turns them hard and crescent shaped. As a result, blood has difficulty flowing smoothly and carrying oxygen to the rest of the body, which may lead to severe pain, tissue and organ damage, anemia, and even strokes.

Patients with sickle cell disease, the majority of whom are of African, Latin and Mediterranean descent, may need blood transfusions throughout their lifetime, with some requiring closely compatible blood to avoid complications. In the Penn Jersey Blood Services Region, blood from donors who self-identify as Black or African-American is marked with a blue tie tag, designating it as a potential match for a sickle cell patient. Extra tests are performed to ensure recipients receive the right blood. This program was the first of its kind in the U.S. and has helped educate and recruit blood donors from diverse communities since 1999.

To learn more about sickle cell disease, check out the following links:

• Philadelphia’s ‘Blue Tag Program’ transforms sickle cell treatment
• Red Cross initiative aims to increase blood availability for patients with sickle cell disease
• American Red Cross: History of Sickle Cell Disease

Donate Blood

Having a diverse blood supply is one way to ensure all patients have ongoing access to compatible blood transfusions. To make an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).