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    • Sentara names The Blood Connection as primary blood supplier for all 12 hospitals

    The nonprofit community blood center is bringing a donation center, distribution hub, two bloodmobiles, and up to 100 new jobs to Hampton Roads
    A large black monument sign outside a building displays The Blood Connection's red logo, organization name and tagline, "Your Community Blood Center." Green shrubs surround the base of the sign, with a white building and trees visible in the background.

    Virginia-based Sentara Health has partnered with The Blood Connection as the primary supplier of blood and blood products for its 12 hospitals in Virginia and North Carolina.  

    Sentara began working with the nonprofit community blood center as a secondary supplier in August, and the relationship has rapidly expanded. Sentara made The Blood Connection its primary blood supplier on Nov. 1. 

    “The need for reliable and safe blood products drove this decision because of its impact on patient care,” said Ian Noga, Vice President of Laboratory Services for Sentara Health. “We appreciate the challenge of collecting and maintaining blood supplies, and we hope a fresh, local approach will help us ensure a reliable supply for our patients.” 

    Sentara operates four trauma centers in Virginia, including a Level I center at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, where blood is always in high demand. 

    "We are honored to be chosen as the primary blood provider for Sentara,” said Delisa English, President and CEO of The Blood Connection. 

    “For 65 years, we have remained focused on the recruitment of donors, collection, and testing of lifesaving blood products. We know that when seconds matter, having blood readily available has a dramatic impact on a patient’s outcome.”

    A smiling woman wearing glasses reclines in a padded donation chair inside a mobile blood donation unit while a staff member wearing purple gloves tends to her arm. A blue tourniquet is wrapped around the donor's upper arm, and tubing extends from her arm toward collection equipment beside the chair. Another staff member works in the background.

    A donor gives blood aboard one of The Blood Connection's mobile donation units (Photo courtesy of The Blood Connection).

    The Blood Connection (TBC) is quickly establishing a presence in the Hampton Roads, Virginia region as a base to serve Sentara’s hospitals. This includes opening a depot for safely storing blood supplies and distributing them through TBC’s courier fleet. It will establish a blood donation center for Hampton Roads and station two bloodmobiles in the region to reach donors in areas that Sentara serves. The company plans to hire as many as 100 people to support clinical and transport operations. 


    The Blood Connection adheres to all FDA regulations for testing and safe storage of blood supplies and relies on volunteer donors. Across the U.S., about 3% of eligible people donate blood. Community members who donate to The Blood Connection are supporting their neighbors who need blood and blood products. To thank donors for their time and commitment, The Blood Connection offers TBC Rewards, which can be redeemed for e-gift cards and other incentives as tokens of appreciation.

    A large red-and-white mobile blood donation bus bearing The Blood Connection's logo and "Your Community Blood Center" tagline is parked in an asphalt lot surrounded by tall green trees. The bus has several side windows, an extended awning and entry steps near the front.

    The Blood Connection operates mobile blood donation units to help collect lifesaving blood donations in the communities it serves (Photo courtesy of The Blood Connection).

    The Blood Connection was established in 1962 in Greenville, South Carolina as the Greenville Blood Assurance Plan. The organization has grown into other regions in the southeast and adopted the name The Blood Connection in 2000. TBC now serves communities in North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia. It has been the exclusive blood supplier for the Roanoke-based hospital system Carilion Clinic since 2023. 

    “We are optimistic about this new approach to blood donation,” Noga said. “The bottom line for us is having blood for our patients when they need it and serving the Sentara mission to improve health every day.” 

    By: Dale Gauding