Representatives of the Stanford Blood Center say the recent slump in the Bay Area's economy is hurting their ability to collect needed blood. They say some companies undergoing layoffs and cost-cutting efforts are canceling mobile blood drives, which account for about 50 percent of the blood Stanford Blood Center collects each year.

For instance, a large Silicon Valley company cancelled four mobile blood drives scheduled for this week. "It is anticipated that 160 units would have been collected during those four blood drives, which would account for approximately a quarter of the week's blood donation," said Doreen Leith, mobile recruitment supervisor. Fortunately two companies, Rambus and Harmonic Inc., stepped in and agreed to host blood drives during two of the four time slots, Leith added.

"Stanford Blood Center is in a unique position because our prosperity tends to ebb and flow with that of Silicon Valley's economy," said Michele Gassaway, spokesperson for the blood center. "Companies are much more likely to hold blood drives when business is going well and more employees are able to participate."

The decrease in blood donations comes at a critical time for the center. Several patients in need of large quantities of blood combined with the need to prepare for the upcoming Labor Day holiday make it difficult for the blood center to maintain a steady inventory. Recently at Stanford Hospital, one patient used 160 units of blood products during a liver transplant, while another trauma patient used 118 units.

In anticipation of the Sept. 3 Labor Day holiday, area residents are being asked to donate at the blood center's two locations in Palo Alto and Mountain View. Donors should be in good health, with no cold or flu symptoms. They must also eat well prior to donation, drink fluids and present photo identification. The entire process takes approximately one hour and can help up to three different patients in need of blood. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit http://bloodcenter.stanford.edu.