Blood and Tissue Center of Central Texas gets new name

The Blood and Tissue Center of Central Texas is now called We Are Blood and while it has a new name its mission remains the same.

The non profit organization was founded in 1951 as the Travis County Medical Society Blood Bank. It initially provided whole blood to four Austin hospitals and a couple of rural clinics.

Now more than 50 years later, We Are Blood is the exclusive provider and guardian of the community blood supply for more than 37 medical facilities in a ten county service area of Central Texas.

It collects more than 55,000 blood donations annually. The donations are extensively tested to ensure suitability for transfusion and processed into life saving components (such as red blood cells, plasma and platelets) which all go to help Central Texas patients.

To donate you must be at least 17, weight at least 115 pounds and be in generally good health. We Are Blood is open seven days a week and is located on North Lamar just south of 45th Street.

There are two other centers as well. One in Round Rock on North Mays and the other in South Austin on Slaughter.

With the rebranding, We Are Blood will be hitting the road this fall and winter in its Bloodstream trailer to reconnect with the community. 

The Family Reunion tour is kicking off on October 20. You can get more information here.