MEDIC’S O NEGATIVE SUPPLY REMAINS CRITICALLY LOW
MEDIC Regional Blood Center, the primary provider of blood products for 25 hospitals and air medical transport services across 23 counties in East Tennessee and Southeastern Kentucky, is currently facing a critical shortage of O Negative blood, with less than a 3-day supply remaining on the shelves, while O Positive inventory is also low at under a 5-day supply.
This urgent situation stems from a significant increase in demand for these blood types over the past week. The nonprofit organization, which serves major facilities including Blount Memorial, Covenant Health System, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, Tennova Healthcare, and UT Medical Center, emphasizes that the blood currently available is what would be used in immediate trauma events, as donated blood requires at least three days for processing and distribution.
Eligible donors, particularly those with O Negative or O Positive types, are strongly encouraged to donate as soon as possible at any donor center or mobile drive. Through Friday, January 16, 2026, all successful O-type donors will receive a $25 e-gift card. Additionally, from January 19–23, MEDIC will partner with WATE and Food City for Roll Up Your Sleeve Week, offering donors a special edition sweatshirt, a Texas Roadhouse coupon, automatic entry for a two-night cabin stay with GSM Rentals, and multiple chances to win Food City gift cards.
Appointments are encouraged and can be scheduled online at www.medicblood.org, via the MEDIC app, or by calling 865-524-3074, though walk-ins are welcome; donors can also complete the pre-donation questionnaire in advance at www.medicpass.org. Importantly, donations through MEDIC stay local to support the community, unlike those collected by other organizations that are often shipped elsewhere nationally.
