Blood and Blood Products

Blood products were previously ordered from Central Blood Bank which has now become Vitalant and all blood products should be ordered from Vitalant. Purchasing Services has established a new Master Services Agreement to facilitate purchases and the following processes are now in place.

Beginning June 1, 2021, the following changes will go into effect for all blood products from Vitalant: Vitalant will be changing its blood bags from Haemonetics CP2D to Fenwal CPD. This change will impact the blood bag itself, the product code, and the anticoagulant that preserves the product. For any specific questions about these changes, contact the University's Vitalant representative listed below. 

Inactive CBB Account or New Accounts

Each researcher must complete a BS 049 form to create a new account with Vitalant. The completed form should be sent to Pitt’s Vitalant contact, listed below.

Please note it takes 7-10 days from receipt of the BS 049 form for the account to be established. The researcher will be notified when their account becomes active and they are able to order blood and blood products.

Existing and Active CBB Accounts

Any department with a Central Blood Bank (CBB) account that is still active can purchase product from Vitalant under their CBB account information. Vitalant will contact the researcher when the account is within 120 days of expiration to see if they wish to extend their account. Departments that extend their account will need to fill out the BS 049 and the account expiration will be set to February 20, 2023.

Ordering Process

The University Purchase Order should be under the vendor name of "Central Blood Bank," not Vitalant. Once a PO number has been issued, the department should contact Vitalant’s Research Product line at (412) 209-7194 to finalize the order.

Vitalant Contact Information
George Dimopoulos, Senior Director, Strategic Planning and Transformational Services
Phone: 847.226.4821
Email: GDimopoulos@vitalant.org

Five Parkway Center
875 Greentree Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15220 

Research Product Line (order finalization)

  • Buffy Coat orders only: 412-209-7194
  • Blood products other than Buffy Coat (i.e. blood cells, etc.): contact Mike Quint as outlined above. 

Pricing

  • The price of Source Leukocytes (Buffy Coat) is $375.00 effective May 5, 2023.
  • The transportation fee is $52.30 per order. A fee will not be imposed on products that are picked up at the Vitalant’s Parkway Center location.

See the Standard Operating Procedures for Blood Draws Outside of Clinical Care Areas.