US blood banks working to boost Latino donations

“Blood banks look at the United States’ Hispanic population boom and see an unexpected potential to save thousands of lives: The possibility of more so-called universal blood donors.

It turns out that Latinos are more likely than the average American to have Type O blood, the type blood banks value most because it can be used by so many patients.

That potential so far is mostly untapped. Now blood banks are beginning major efforts to boost Latino donations, amid concern that the blood supply could face a serious imbalance if population shifts bring more demand for Type O transfusions without a parallel increase in giving”

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