SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 5283

                            AS OF FEBRUARY 18, 1991

Brief Description:  Allowing blood donor programs.

SPONSORS:Senators Cantu, Metcalf, Saling, L. Smith, Oke, McDonald, Bailey, Craswell and Thorsness.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG‑TERM CARE

Staff:  Don Sloma (786‑7414)

Hearing Dates:February 19, 1991

BACKGROUND:

Under current statutes and rules, several blood banks and blood donation stations operate in Washington.  The most common form of blood donation involves a voluntary donor whose blood is tested, typed and made available through the blood banks to any person who may need it.  However, in at least one such blood donor program, donors may direct their blood donations to specific recipients. 

Current state law regulates the operation of blood banks and blood donation procedures.  However, current law contains no requirements regarding the availability of directed blood donation procedures within blood donation programs.

SUMMARY:

Any blood donor program existing within Washington State must establish a program and procedure to honor requests by donors to have the blood donations directed for use to persons they may specify for a period of 14 days after the donation.

Certain program and procedural aspects of required directed donation programs are specified including that requests must be in writing from the recipient patient and their physician, that only one recipient may be named, that the donor will make an appointment with the blood donor program for the donation, that the donor will sign a release when the blood is donated and that the request be submitted in a timely manner.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested