On Wednesday morning, OneBlood, a blood collector serving Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, released a statement concerning a ransomware event that is impacting its software systems and hindering its blood processing and labeling capabilities. OneBlood has continued to collect, process and label blood, and is releasing some inventory to hospitals, prioritizing the most in-demand products, including platelets and O-negative blood.
OneBlood is currently working to restore its software system as soon as possible. In the meantime, multiple teams are working around the clock and manual processes are being scaled to increase inventory.
The Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB) has activated its Interorganizational Task Force on Domestic Disasters and Acts of Terrorism to coordinate national resources and assist with securing and transporting blood products where needed in impacted areas.
The Task Force comprises representatives from U.S. blood services, associations and commercial entities, as well as liaisons from governmental agencies, who work together in an effort to ensure that a safe and adequate blood supply is available at all times. In addition, the Task Force operates as a mechanism to assess the need for blood collections and/or transportation in times of disasters or low inventory.
Blood centers across the country are providing additional support to OneBlood during this time, sending thousands of units of blood and platelets to ensure patient needs continue to be met.
In addition, OneBlood and the Task Force are exploring short- and mid-term solutions to meet blood supply needs as these issues get resolved. Hospitals should contact their primary blood supplier with questions.
The blood community remains committed to collaborating to ensure patient blood needs are met during this time, but summer months often see reductions in blood donations. Eligible individuals are encouraged to schedule an appointment to donate to help ensure a readily available blood supply across the country.
The blood community encourages eligible Americans to make an appointment to donate blood or platelets at their nearest blood collection location. Please contact one of the following organizations to schedule an appointment today:
- AABB: www.WhereToDonateBlood.org; +1.301.907.6977
- America’s Blood Centers: www.americasblood.org; +1.202.393.5725
- American Red Cross: www.RedCrossBlood.org; +1.800.RED CROSS (+1.800.733.2767)