Immediate need for type-O negative blood donors in Boston

BOSTON — The Kraft Family Blood Donor Center is asking type-O negative blood donors to step up to help during a shortage in supply.

The blood donation center provides life-saving blood and platelets to patients at Brigham and Women's as well as the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Type-O negative blood shortages are common in hospitals and blood banks around the world as it is one of the rarest types of blood but also happens to be the universal donor.

Anyone unidentified patient who needs to be rushed to an operation room will most likely be given O-negative as it could be deadly to guess someone's blood type.

Currently, only about 7 percent of the U.S. population has O-negative blood.

Appointments for donation can be scheduled by emailing blooddonor@partners.org or by calling 617-632-3206. In-person walk-in appointments will also be accepted.

The Donor Center is located at 35 Binney St., Boston. Parking in the Dana-Farber garage will be validated for donors.

Cox Media Group