Note: The following is a news release from Miller-Keystone Blood Center.
Miller-Keystone Blood Center (MKBC) is pleased to announce the launch of iScreen, a secure, private way for donors to complete their donor history questionnaire. Starting on Tuesday, Jan. 6, iScreen will be used by donors to answer these questions in a private setting at a blood drive or donation center or online on the day of donation, prior to their arrival.
Bundles of donated blood at a blood bank (FILE PHOTO)
“iScreen is a secure Internet-based system that will allow a donor to answer his/her donor history questions confidentially,” explained Sean Tinney, Director of Marketing and Business Development, MKBC. “After completing the questionnaire, the donor will be able to print out or email to his/her smartphone a barcoded ticket that contains their hidden responses, which they will bring with them for their scheduled donation.”
Tinney explained that as a safety measure for both the recipient and the donor, the FDA requires that the Blood Center ask all donor history questions prior to every donation.
Tinney noted that, due to FDA regulations, the online donor history questionnaire must be completed on the same day as one’s blood donation.
“Questions completed prior to midnight the day of donation will be invalid and the donor will have to repeat the interview prior to his/her blood donation,” he confirmed.
Benefits of the new iScreen application include:
- Save time – by completing the donor history questions prior to arriving for a scheduled blood donation, the donor may reduce the amount of time spent at the Blood Center or blood drive location.
- Privacy – an MKBC staff member will no longer ask the donor history questions. Only questions which are skipped or which need further follow up will be asked.
- Convenience – donors can complete their donor history questions anytime and anywhere on the day of donation.
- Help save the environment – iScreen is a paperless option.
Tinney confirmed that the iScreen application is secure and private.
“All responses are kept confidential,” he said. “The only information printed on the donor receipt is the donor’s name. After completing the donor history questions, a secure barcode is generated. This barcode can only be read by software accessible at Miler-Keystone Blood Center donor locations.”
The system is also designed to time out after a period of inactivity, so no one can access a donor’s confidential donor history responses.
“If a question is answered incorrectly, it can be changed at any time during the process,” Tinney added. “However, if the process has been completed and the donor has emailed or printed their ticket, they should notify an MKBC staff member at the time of their donation.” The donor may also skip a question if they are unsure how to answer it, and review it with an MKBC staff member at the time of donation.
For more information about Miller-Keystone Blood Center’s new iScreen online donor history questionnaire, call 800-B-A-DONOR (223-6667) or visit GIVEaPINT.org.
