The blood supply in the United States is much safer today than ever before. The risk of disease transmission has been greatly reduced thanks to multiple levels of safeguards, including:

• Comprehensive evaluation of donors' medical and social history
• Physical examination of the donor
• Strict donation procedures using sterile supplies
• Laboratory testing

These procedures are followed by all blood centers nationwide and by all blood centers nationwide and are monitored under the regulatory guidance of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Only volunteers are permitted to donate blood, and there are no incentives to give. Studies prove that community volunteers are the safest source of blood for transfusion.

Every donor completes a health history questionnaire and a screening interview. Strict confidentiality, as well as the absence of incentives or pressure to donate, encourage honest answers and the deferral of any potential donor with possible health risks.

Every time someone donates blood, his or her blood is tested for evidence of infectious disease, including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, Syphilis, West Nile Virus and the donor's blood type. Any unit of blood that shows evidence of carrying a disease is discarded.