United Blood Services is a nonprofit community blood center headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. They provide blood and blood products to more than 500 hospitals in 18 states across the nation.
The Mission of United Blood Services
According to their website, United Blood Services, "[exists] to make a difference in people's lives by bringing together the best people, inspiring individuals to donate blood, producing a safe and ample blood supply, advancing cutting-edge research and embracing continuous quality improvement."
The United Blood Difference
Unlike others in the industry, United Blood Services offers valuable incentives to its donors through a loyalty rewards program.
Benefits for Donors
The Hero in Me program recognizes blood donors for their generous contributions. There is a three-tiered system that works as follows:
| Tier | Number of Annual Donations Required | Points Earned |
| Gold | Three |
200 for each donation (300 for red cell donors) 100 bonus points for making and keeping online appointment |
| Silver | Two |
100 for each donation (300 for red cell donors) 100 bonus points for making and keeping online appointment |
| Bronze | One |
100 for each donation (300 for red cell donors) 100 bonus points for making and keeping online appointment |
Points earned from donations can be redeemed at the Hero Rewards Store. Redemption options include gift certificates to be used at your favorite retailers and restaurants, movie tickets and t-shirts.
How to Donate
Donating blood through United Blood Services is a fairly simple and can be done three times per year.
Step 1: Find a Location or Drive
United Blood donation centers and drives can be located by zip code using the online tool found on the website.
Step 2: Make an Appointment Online
Once you've found a nearby location, create an online profile so you can make an appointment directly from the website.
Step 3: Complete the Interview and Medical Exam
You can expedite the screening process by completing the Fast Track Health History Questionnaire online.
Step 4: Donate Blood
Donations can take anywhere between 10 minutes and 2 hours, depending on the type of donation. These include whole blood, double red cell, pheresis, autologous and directed donations.
You can learn more about the donation experience at their website.
Eligibility Requirements
To donate blood, you must meet the following criteria:
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Be 16 years of age of older
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Weigh at least 110 pounds
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Permission from a parent or guardian if 16 or 17
Special criteria apply for individuals between the ages of 16 and 22.
Other Ways to Get Involved
Beyond giving blood, you can get involved with United Blood Services by organizing a blood drive.
Coordinator Rewards Program
As a blood drive coordinator, you will earn points for your efforts. The points can be redeemed for items in the Hero Rewards Store. The three-tiered system is as follows:
| Tier | Number of Blood Drives Organized | Points Earned |
| Gold | Three |
500 |
| Silver | Two | 300 |
| Bronze | One |
100 |
You can also earn bonus points for:
- Filling 80 percent of your appointment schedule (400 points)
- Meeting your blood drive procedure goal (600 points)
- Signing up additional donors beyond your goal (25 points)
Is United Blood Services Legit?
While the organization hasn't yet been reviewed by any of the major charity watchdog services, a few of the stand-alone locations have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). In addition, donors from the following review sites gave the following feedback:
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Yelp: A reviewer from Phoenix, Arizona described how the upbeat and positive attitudes demonstrated by the staff members eased her fears about donating blood.
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Facebook: Several reviewers from the New Mexico area cited well-trained and friendly staff as the highlight of their visits.
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Birds Eye: Reviewers from Ventura, California repeatedly referred to the cleanliness of the facility and the great first impressions left on them by staff members.
On the other hand, there were others who weren't quite as impressed with United Blood Services. A complaint from a reviewer in Arizona on USA Complaints.com mentioned excessive wait times and rude staff. Another complaint from the BBB in Las Vegas, Nevada stemmed from issues with advertising and sales but was resolved in 2015.
Using United Blood Services
Ultimately, the choice is yours and you must be comfortable with the organization and location you'll be using before making a decision. Regardless of where you donate, you'll play an integral role in improving the health and possibly saving the lives of others in need of blood.
