In a bid to boost the capital's blood supplies, Beijing Municipal Health Bureau has announced that the amount of blood university students donate will affect their academic grades. Supplies have been critically low since last winter, partially due to public mistrust caused by the Guo Meimei scandal. more ›

A hepatitis epidemic believed to be caused by intravenous injections has broken out along the Henan-Anhui border. more ›

In a scientific development that conjures images of Chinese vampires taking over the earth, scientists at Wuhan University (in conjunction with colleagues from Canada and the U.S.) have figured out a way to extract human serum albumin (HSA) from rice seeds. more ›

A man from Liaoning has issued a desperate plea for Rh-negative AB blood carriers to come forward and donate to help his 23-year-old wife who need to undergo surgery at a Shanghai hospital. This is the second time such a call has been put forth this year, and they hope that foreigners will come forward and donate. Less than 1% of the Chinese population have Rh-negative blood (and even fewer have Rh-negative AB blood) whereas about 15% of Caucasians have it. And it could potentially be a life-saving move for donors as well, as "Any volunteer who has donated for others is given priority in the future, should he or she ever need the deed returned." While Global Times doesn't say where you should go to donate, the Shanghai Blood Center is probably a good place to start. more ›

Shanghai Daily has a short report on the state of blood donations in the city. It said that according to the latest figures by the Shanghai Blood Administration Office, 97.1% of blood donations were voluntary, up from just 1.8% in 1999. What this means of course, is that 2.9% of blood donations remain involuntary. The paper goes on to explain, "In the past, most of the city's blood was collected through giving quotas to companies, government departments and universities." It's about time they scrapped mandatory blood collection altogether. more ›

Last weekend Shanghai Daily put out a call for people with RH negative AB type blood to help an aging local teacher and charity worker. 10 local expats answered the call for donations to help 87-year-old Zhang Jingdi, who was suffering from anemia following an abdominal surgery. AB negative is a blood type more common among Caucasians than Chinese. According to Zhang's family, he is already in stable condition and they will call on the volunteers only if his condition worsens. "We are deeply touched and are grateful to the foreign volunteers," said his son. Thanks to those who stepped up to the call! If any of you are interested in donating so shortages like this don't happen again in the future, you can contact the Shanghai Red Cross Blood Center (their procedures are entirely sterile and safe.) more ›

Our favourite paper, Shanghai Daily, is looking for RH negative AB type blood. Apparently it's to save the life of an 87 year old retired Shanghai teacher who has over the years raised more than 5 million yuan to help people in poverty. Did they think this guy was so famous that they didn't need to name him? Apparently so. Below their announcement in full: more ›

Photo from Julien & Gwladys more ›

We know that many of you have been affected by the tragic aftermath of this week's devastating earthquake in Wenchuan and are looking for ways to help the victims, so here is your chance to immediately get involved. We received word from ShanghaiExpat that the blood mobile will be out today in front of the Shanghai Exhibition Center opposite the Portman Hotel (a.k.a. the Shanghai Center). Those interested in donating blood have been instructed to make an appointment with Shanghai United Family Hospital by calling 5133-1968. more ›

1. university students who might be studying medicine and could use the cash, 2. people who want to further the cause of medicine (and who might be sick themselves, and thus have a stake in it), and 3. people who are in it just for the money. more ›

Hey all you laowai's out there — yes, you of the caucasoid and negroid variety (and for the record, none of those terms are derogatory) — China wants your blood! Earlier this year, we told you that Shanghai was looking for foreign blood, but this time it's Beijing, and it's for the Olympics! From the Guardian Unlimited:China's capital on Wednesday urged residents with a blood type rare among Chinese people but common among Caucasians and... more ›