Frequently Asked Questions

We are here to bridge the gap between researchers who are looking for cures and donors who are looking to help. Our program invites healthy individuals to participate in research studies in which you may donate a variety of blood and cell types. These cells and blood go to medical and scientific researchers all over the world who are developing medical breakthroughs. We are different from a blood bank that collects blood to transfuse into patients.

As a donor with LeukoLab, you are a study participant. This means your participation is voluntary and you can discontinue your participation at any time. This also means LeukoLab clinical staff may determine that your participation is no longer suitable for any or all of the studies at any time. Our program has IRB (Independent Review Board) oversight, independent of our organization, to help assure the rights and welfare of our donors.

You’re not alone! Donating blood for research has been around for a long time and after 14 years in operation, we have perfected the experience of donating for research. At LeukoLab, we put our donors first. Your consent is required every time you donate with LeukoLab, and we’re here to make sure that the donation process is clear and that you always feel comfortable.

Becoming a donor with us is easy! It takes just 5 steps:

1. Complete the online screening form.
2. Get screened on-site.
3. Donate!
4. Receive your compensation.
5. Donate again!

To get the best overview, watch our donor video.

These are not automatic disqualifiers and are usually acceptable for most of our research grade collections.

Walk-in appointments are not available at this time. The online screening form must be completed before attending your on-site screening. This step is designed to save you time and effort by letting you know right away whether or not you meet our initial requirements to schedule an on-site screening appointment. The form is simple, requesting your contact and medical information, and takes about 5-10 minutes. Please be assured that all of your private information is kept confidential and will not be used or shared outside of LeukoLab. Only one screening form can be accepted from each potential donor.

Research studies have much different requirements than plasma facilities or blood banks. As a study participant, you must be able to complete all the steps of the screening and donation process without assistance. A typical appointment may include walking through our lobby area to our donor room, standing on a scale and getting your height measured before transferring to a donor chair for your clinical assessment and blood draw. You must participate in our on-site screening and be accepted into our program before you are eligible to donate!

No, you have to wait 8 weeks from your last donation before you can come in to LeukoLab for a new donor screening. If you need to reach us to reschedule, please use this link: https://www.leukolab.com/contact-us/

Donating with multiple organizations is a very serious safety risk that could result in a donor giving more blood/cells than is safe. Due to privacy laws, we do not share donor information with other types of donation facilities. Therefore, donors with LeukoLab are asked to refrain from donating any blood or blood product to any other collection facility. Any indication to LeukoLab staff that a donor is donating elsewhere while enrolled in our program will result in permanent disqualification from LeukoLab.

We will process your screening form on the next business day and reach out to you for an appointment if you are found eligible. You can call us at 510-671-8697 and a LeukoLab team member will help you schedule if qualified!

We ask our donors to arrive 15 minutes early to complete some paperwork. Next, we measure your weight, height, and vital signs and take a small sample of blood to conduct a blood panel. We will review the different donation options and discuss the donations for which you qualify. Please note, you may be informed that you do not qualify for any collection types. While this does not happen often, it can! Not qualifying just means you do not fit the requirements for our studies but does not necessarily mean you are unhealthy. Pro tip: A great way to increase your chances of qualifying is to stay hydrated!

Your first screening will take a little over an hour. Subsequent re-screenings take about 60 minutes. A re-screening is required every 3 months to verify your eligibility in the program. Don’t worry, you’ll automatically receive a reminder email from us when it’s time for you to re-screen!

There are a variety of reasons a prospective donor could be disqualified, including medical history, current medications, weight (greater than 130lbs), BMI (less than 40), or other suitability considerations. Our online form is designed to ensure both the safety of donors and a high-quality product that meets researchers’ needs. For this reason, our requirements are very specific. Oftentimes, a disqualification could be a combination of many factors and not any one specific reason. Please do not submit more than one screening form.

No, please do not repeat the questionnaire. Once completed, your submission cannot be retaken. If you feel you made an error or need to reach out to us, fill out this form or email us at info@leukolab.com for us to follow up with you.

Participation in our program often involves multiple regular visits which must start on time! Donors who live outside the recommended distance often find it difficult to attend early morning appointments.

LeukoLab now offers electronic payments. Our donors can decide how to receive their compensation by choosing one of the following: Virtual Debit Card, PayPal, Venmo or direct transfer to a person bank account (with no extra fees!)

You will be compensated based on the donation types you qualify for. At your on-site screening appointment, our clinical staff will conduct an assessment to determine which donation types you qualify for. Not everyone qualifies for all donation types. Compensation rates vary by location as well as the time and effort of each donation type.

Our viral lab tests are used for screening purposes only, not for diagnosis. If we draw your blood for viral tests, you will only receive a call from our medical staff who will advise you to follow up with your own health care provider.

Appointment availability is dependent on donation requests we receive from researchers. Your first donation appointment may be available within 1-2 weeks of your on-site screening. Researcher requests come in daily, so we will continue to reach out to you as requests match your profile. Make sure to answer our texts and calls!

If you are looking to donate again or have not heard from us in a while, please fill out our “I want to donate again” form.

The procedure for donating bone marrow has developed a great deal in the past few years. This minimally invasive procedure will have some discomfort; however, donors are able to drive themselves home after their donation. Many of our donors return to donate bone marrow again!

Yes, you will be able to drive yourself home after all of our collection types.

Generally, only one donation can be provided per visit. There may be instances where we may request a whole blood donation in addition to other scheduled donations on the same day. This is strictly dependent on donor eligibility and total blood volume collected.

The frequency in which you can donate varies by donation type and total blood volume. For donor safety, we track your total blood volume donated; each donor may not donate more than 520mLs of whole blood in an 8-week period. The deferral periods between other donation types vary based on our protocols and your eligibility as a donor and are between 6 weeks and 6 months.