Blood-collection agency closes in NJ, but supplies expected to hold

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One of New Jersey’s nonprofit blood-collection organizations has closed its doors, but officials are saying it will not have a significant impact on the state’s blood supplies.

The Blood Center of New Jersey, based in East Orange, had had financial difficulties for several years.

With its closing, Community Blood Services will acquire some of the Blood Center’s assets.

That should help provide a stable blood supply, said Community Blood Services spokeswoman Karen Ferriday.

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“We’re hoping that we don’t have to have very much concern at all,” she said. “We just want to direct the donor groups that have previously run blood drives with BCNJ that they can now turn to Community Blood Services. And we will try in every way we can to direct them to the right places to donate.”

Despite fewer blood drives this time of year, so far, the supply is meeting the needs of hospitals in the region, Ferriday said.

“Normally. there’s shortages of things like type O-negative and platelet donors, and that always continues at this time of the year,” she said. “So we try to encourage those people, particularly, to give us a call and come out during the next weeks.”

New Jersey has five other blood collection organizations.

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