News Release: American Red Cross Commits Blood to Avert Potential Supply Crisis in New York City

National system mobilizing to compensate for potential loss of "Euroblood"

WASHINGTON (August 21, 2001) — The American Red Cross is taking steps to provide blood to New York City to avert any supply crisis during a transition away from dependence on European blood. The Red Cross is preparing its national network to make blood available for patients as needed in the New York City area as soon as late September. The Red Cross pledge comes amidst concerns that pending action by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to protect America's blood supply from the human form of "mad cow disease" will eliminate between 125,000 and 150,000 units of blood currently imported by a local blood center from Europe. The "Euroblood" program - unique to New York City - provides about 25 percent of patient needs for blood in the area.

"The American Red Cross stands ready to help the patients of New York, as we have in the past," said Jacquelyn Fredrick, Senior Vice President of American Red Cross Biomedical Services. "Last year alone, the Red Cross provided 68,000 life saving blood components to patients in New York City-area hospitals, 60,000 of the total being precious red blood cells," said Fredrick. "Never should a patient - in New York or anywhere in the country - be without needed blood," said Fredrick. "We have to uphold the sacred trust of the American public and increase donations to ensure the availability of the safest possible blood," Fredrick concluded. This commitment means each of the 36 Red Cross Blood Services Regions nationwide are committed to collect an additional 10 to 15 blood donations each day.

The Red Cross today communicated the pledge of assistance to New York Blood Center and the New York State Public Health Commissioner, Dr. Antonia Novello. Red Cross officials are also conveying the commitment in a meeting set for Wednesday, August 22 with the Greater New York Hospital Association.

The American Red Cross has been working with officials from FDA and New York State on the potential blood needs of New York City patients due to upcoming restrictions to prevent the possible spread of the human form of mad cow disease, variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD). There is no blood test for vCJD, which has been shown to be transmissible by blood in laboratory mice and hamsters. These facts, combined with tremendous scientific uncertainty, prompted the FDA and the Red Cross to take a prudent, cautious approach toward vCJD and expand its current donor restrictions.

While patient needs are determined the Red Cross is gearing up collections. New York officials will continue working with the Red Cross to determine exact patient needs. Until then, the Red Cross is increasing collections to ensure an adequate supply for its 3,000 hospitals nationwide and this increased commitment to the patients of New York City.

The New York-Penn Red Cross Blood Services Region, based in Rochester, New York currently serves patients in 136 hospitals throughout New York State, primarily outside of New York City. Last year, the New York-Penn region collected 331,497 blood donations. Notably, Rochester was where the American Red Cross initiated the civilian volunteer blood program in the United States more than 50 years ago.

The American Red Cross provides almost half of the nation's blood supply (collecting more than 6 million units a year from volunteer donors) to 3,000 hospitals through its national network of 36 Blood Services regions. To donate blood, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visit www.redcross.org for more information. Bernadine Healy, M.D., is president and CEO of the American Red Cross.

Editors Note: For information about former American Red Cross testimonies, medical policies, news releases and a history of vCJD, visit http://www.redcross.org/services/biomed/blood/supply/tse.html

AMERICAN RED CROSS STRATEGIES TO INCREASE BLOOD COLLECTIONS:

The American Red Cross is developing an ongoing strategy to meet patient needs for blood that uses the latest technology; maximizes our existing donor base; effectively brings in new, particularly younger donors; and leverages our unique network of 1,050 Red Cross Chapters in communities nationwide.

Leveraging Technology