If you are having a planned surgery, your physician may recommend that you donate blood for your own use. This is called an autologous donation.

There may also be situations when you or your doctor may request blood be donated by a family member or friend specifically for your use. This type of donation is called a directed donation.

If your physician thinks an autologous or directed donation would be beneficial for you, he or she will arrange the donation with the Red Cross. You can donate one or more units of your own blood but your medical professional will determine how much blood you or your directed donor(s) should give.Typically, if you do not use the blood during surgery, the units are destroyed.

Your physician is the best source of information about autologous or directed donation.