Carter BloodCare, a blood donation center located in Tarrant County, provides blood to more than 200 medical facilities in over 50 counties throughout North, Central and East Texas, according to its website.

The impact

Donating one pint of blood can help three patients when whole blood is separated into its three components: red blood cells, plasma and platelets.

Red cells treat anemia and blood loss, platelets treat patients going through chemotherapy, heart surgeries or those who have sustained head injuries, and plasma treats patients experiencing liver failure, severe infections or serious burns.

According to Carter BloodCare, donating blood can help:
  • People injured in car crashes, natural disasters or other traumatic events
  • Mothers experiencing complications during childbirth
  • Patients living with sickle cell disease
  • Older adults with age-related health issues
Zooming in


Services from Carter BloodCare include collecting and processing blood, specialized laboratory testing, and the storage and distribution of blood and blood components.

Once a donor gives blood, the Carter BloodCare team stores the blood in temperature controlled coolers and transports it to their processing center where they complete the following steps:
  • Each donation is scanned into Blood Information Management System for tracking purposes and tested for any infectious agents.
  • The blood is stored in a centrifuge which is spun at high speed to separate blood into its three parts.
  • The three parts are then stored in specialized equipment at a specific temperature range.
  • Once test results are confirmed, blood components are labeled and ready for transportation to hospitals and medical facilities.
Medical facilities request the blood it needs and the Carter BloodCare team transports that blood type to the facility. Each of the blood parts will be stored until a patient needs it.

Red cells are stored in refrigerators between 33.8 and 44.2 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 42 days, while plasma is stored frozen for up to a year and platelets are stored at room temperature for seven days while continuously shaken.

Get involved


First Grapevine Methodist Church holds four blood drives a year in partnership with Carter BloodCare. Miriam Ward, the blood drive coordinator for First Grapevine, said the church's blood drives for 2025 will be held on:
  • Jan. 12
  • April 17
  • Oct. 19
  • July 20
“[Donating] saves lives,” Ward said. “...Twice, in 2005 and 2009, I had to receive blood transfusions and I lived because other people donated.”

Donors need to bring a form of identification, drink plenty of water, eat well and avoid drinking alcohol the night before.

According to Carter BloodCare, the donation process consists of:
  • Answering questions about health and history
  • Completing a mini health exam
  • Cleansing arm and giving blood for about 10 minutes
  • Relaxing and drinking refreshments before leaving
Donors must be at least 16 years old to donate blood, according to Carter BloodCare. Those younger than 17 must have a signed parental consent form.

By the numbers


In 2024, First Grapevine received enough blood to save 324 lives. Ward said they received 81 whole blood units, 12 double red units and three plasma units.

According to America’s Blood Centers:
  • A blood transfusion occurs every two seconds in the United States
  • 25% of the community blood supply is collected through high school blood drives
  • One in seven hospitalized patients will require a transfusion during their stay
  • Transfusions are needed in one out of every 83 childbirths
  • 25% of the U.S. blood supply is used to support cancer patients
  • 62% of the U.S. population is eligible to donate, yet only 3% nationwide donate blood