Donating Blood & Platelets

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Blood donor

Giving just one pint of your blood can help save lives, and it only takes about an hour.

A healthy supply of blood and platelets is crucial for people with cancer, who need more blood products than people with any other type of illness. Because red blood cells can be stored for only 42 days — and platelets for just five days — we rely on donations from friends, family members, good citizens, and others to ensure there is enough for everyone.

How to Donate

To make an appointment to donate blood or platelets:

We ask that all donors be in good health and at least 17 years old or under age 75 (or have parental or physician consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, and show picture identification.

If this is the first time that you’re donating blood and/or platelets, you may want to review our general donor guidelines and read our information about other specific requirements such as medicines that might affect your eligibility to be a donor and how frequently you are allowed to donate.

Answers to other common questions about the donation process, the difference between donating blood and platelets, and what happens to your donation are available in our FAQs section.

It is important that you make an appointment to donate as the Donor Room can only accommodate a limited number of donors in a single day. Please be flexible when scheduling your donation.

Feel free to call us at 212-639-7648 with any additional questions you may have.

Directed Donations

Along with blood and platelets donated for use by all Memorial Sloan Kettering patients, we accept donations made for your own future use as well as directed donations for specific patients.

To learn more about this option or to make an appointment, please call us at 212-639-7648 or email [email protected].

Blood Donor Room Location

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Arnold and Marie Schwartz Cancer Research Building
1250 First Avenue
(Between 67th and 68th Streets)
New York, NY 10065

Whole Blood Donation Hours

Sunday from 8:30AM to 2:30PM

Monday from 8:30AM to 3:00PM

Tuesday from 8:30AM to 5:00PM

Wednesday from 8:30AM to 5:00PM

Thursday from 8:30AM to 7:00PM

Friday from 8:30AM to 3:00PM

Saturday Closed

Platelet Donation Hours

Sunday from 8:30AM to 1:30PM

Monday from 8:30AM to 1:30PM

Tuesday from 8:30AM to 4:00PM

Wednesday from 8:30AM to 4:00PM

Thursday from 8:30AM to 6:00PM

Friday from 8:30AM to 1:30PM

Saturday Closed

Parking

We offer donors vouchers for free parking for up to five hours at these garages:

  • Somerset Garage
    1365 York Avenue at 72nd Street
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Parking Garage
    East 66th Street between First and York Avenues