The path from blood donation to live-saving transfusion will now be a little faster with Bloodworks Northwest’s new lab on Overlake Medical Center’s campus.

The two organizations have opened a full-service transfusion lab that they say will improve patient care by providing faster testing and matching, immediate access to blood components and expertise when patients need critical transfusions for surgeries, trauma, treatment or emergencies.

“Care providers can now experience streamlined service and faster turn-around times, while we can share our transfusion expertise and the benefit of lifesaving blood collected from donors across our region,” said said Dr. James P. AuBuchon, president and CEO of Bloodworks.

Studies show that blood transfusions are the most frequently performed medical procedure patients receive during hospital stays. About five million Americans receive transfusions every year.

The lab represents the latest chapter in a longstanding partnership between the two organizations. The relationship dates back to 1960, when Overlake Hospital first opened with Bloodworks – then called the King Country Central Blood Bank – as its provider of blood services.

“Our partnership with Bloodworks complements our commitment to deliver exceptional quality and compassionate care to our patients,” said Overlake Medical Center Chief Medical Officer David Knoepfler, MD. “Our shared goal is to deliver the highest quality and best service possible to our patients – always.”

The lab will be open to patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Their specialty diagnostics lab in Seattle will continue to serve patients with rare or complex blood types, and community members can still donate blood at various Bloodworks locations in King County.