Kentucky Blood Center (KBC), the largest Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed blood bank headquartered in the Commonwealth, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring a safe, adequate blood supply for patients at nearly 70 Kentucky hospitals and clinics in more than 60 counties. KBC relies on volunteers to collect 400 pints of blood per day to meet area patients’ needs. Over the last year KBC distributed nearly 130,000 blood components.

Founded in 1968 by the Lexington Medical Society, KBC is headquartered in Lexington where it operates the Beaumont and Andover donor centers. KBC also has donor centers in Somerset and Pikeville.

KBC is regulated and inspected by the FDA to assure it is meeting all standards of quality, potency and purity. Additional inspections are regularly conducted by American Association of Blood Banks. KBC is a member of America's Blood Centers and Blood Centers of America.

Donated blood components are vital to a wide range of treatments including cancer, trauma, sickle cell, organ transplant, surgeries and many more. Presently, more than half of all blood donations come from blood drives organized and hosted by volunteers at businesses, churches, schools and community centers. Blood drives can be indoors at host facilities with adequate space and amenities, or on specially-designed bloodmobiles.

KBC frequently uses the phrase “Only With You” to emphasize the relationship that exists among its many stakeholders – donors, patients, hospitals, employees, volunteers, charitable donors, blood drive hosts, elected officials and community leaders. Only by collaborating together in a mission of lifesaving is KBC able to assure the blood supply is safe and reliable.