Hoxworth Blood Center community advisory board member and sickle cell warrior Carla Howard hosted a blood drive in partnership with Delta Sigma Theta - Cincinnati Alumnae Chapter, at Corinthian Baptist Church in honor of Sickle Cell Awareness month last September.
"Patients that require chronic transfusion therapy, like those with sickle cell, will require more specially matched units of blood," explains Caroline Alquist, MD, PhD, Chief Transplant-Services Officer, Hoxworth Blood Center.
"Because different genetic and ethnic backgrounds have different proteins on the surface of red blood cells, an individual will be better matched to someone with the same genetic or ethnic background, which is why a diverse blood supply is critically needed for patients battling sickle cell."
