Events

Programs

In Our Schools

Stories

Ready to Donate Blood?

Your blood. Their hope.
Find A Center

MKBC

About Us

At Miller-Keystone Blood Center, our mission is to save lives by partnering with our community to provide a continuous supply of blood products and services.

Miller-Keystone Blood Center is a member of America’s Blood Centers, a national network of independent, non-profit community blood centers that provide approximately 60% of the blood products transfused in the United States.

MKBC

Historical Timeline

1966

On September 12, a blood bank is founded in Reading, PA, as the Blood Bank of Berks County through cooperative efforts of the Berks County Medical Society and the Reading Host Lions Club; offices are established in downtown Reading (PA), with donors donating at one of the three local hospitals (Reading Hospital & Medical Center, Community General Hospital, St. Joseph Medical Center). The Blood Bank’s name is later changed to Keystone Community Blood Bank (KCBB).

1971

The dedication ceremony for the new Samuel W. Miller Memorial Blood Center (MMBC) takes place on September 9th and the first unit of blood is collected the following day. The first hospitals to participate were St. Luke’s Hospital and Muhlenberg Hospital Center followed by Easton Hospital a month later. Before the years end, the Center was supplying blood and blood products to Allentown Hospital, Allentown Osteopathic Medical Center, and Sacred Heart Hospital.

1974

Lehigh Valley Hospital becomes the seventh participating hospital.

1977

An accredited reference laboratory where difficult transfusion problems and identification of rare donor units are resolved was established. A rare donor registry is created and is made accessible to blood centers across the country.

1978

Quakertown Community Hospital becomes the eighth hospital served by MMBC.

1979

A frozen red cell program which allows the storage of rare blood units is developed by MMBC. Keystone Community Blood Bank begins to develop plans for mobile blood collection services.

1981

The first KCBB field hospital bloodmobile is held in January, with collected blood tested and prepared for transfusion at local hospitals.

1982

A new blood bag preservative is introduced extending the shelf life of blood from 21 to 35 days.

1985

Donor screening for HIV antibody is initiated at MMBC. A self-contained bloodmobile is purchased by KCBB to collect blood at sites that are not able to host on-site blood drives due to space limitations or number of donors, and administrative offices are moved to a location in Bern Township.

1987

The first branch location, 1251 S. Cedar Crest Boulevard in Allentown, is opened on January 12th. Slate Belt Medical Center in Bangor becomes the first satellite location for the Blood Center. The Board of Directors of Keystone Community Blood Bank approves Reading Hospital & Medical Center as the component center for all KCBB-collected blood.

1988

A new blood bag preservative allows blood to be stored up to 42 days. A decision is made to build a new facility and a 1.2 million dollar capital campaign is launched in August. On November 29, a ground- breaking ceremony is held at the site of the new MMBC in the Lehigh Valley Corporate Center.

1990

On January 15, a new 32,000 square foot Miller Memorial Blood Center opens at the Valley Center Parkway, Bethlehem, in the Lehigh Valley Corporate Center. MMBC begins an apheresis (platelet) program on September 25th.

1993

A self-contained bloodmobile coach is purchased by MMBC to collect blood at sites unable to host on- site bloodmobiles because of space limitations or number of donors. MMBC is licensed for blood collection in the state of New Jersey. Hackettstown Community Hospital becomes the ninth hospital to affiliate with MMBC and the first hospital in New Jersey. Warren Hospital in Phillipsburg, New Jersey becomes the tenth hospital to join MMBC.

1995

Therapeutic phlebotomy, the removal of specific volumes of blood to combat the symptoms of disease such as polycythemia vera, is now performed at Miller. Newton Memorial Hospital, Newton, New Jersey, becomes the eleventh hospital to join MMBC’s program.

1997

Miller Memorial Blood Center implements a sophisticated data management system. The new system, approved by the FDA, integrates donor product and distribution information for quality, safety and process control for both donors and blood products. On October 1st, Pottstown Memorial Medical Center joins MMBC’s blood service program.

1998

On October 6, an affiliation is announced between Miller Memorial Blood Center, Keystone Community Blood Bank, and Central Pennsylvania Blood Center of Hummelstown, PA. MMBC launches a website, located at www.mmbc.org/blood. KCBB’s donor center is moved to the Community Campus of St. Joseph Medical Center.

1999

MMBC is licensed for donor retested plasma. Palmerton Hospital joins Miller’s blood service program.

2000

Miller is awarded a contract with a national wound care center for testing of their blood samples. MMBC is licensed to collect leukoreduced pheresis platelets at the main facility and Cedar Crest satellite. The KCBB Board of Directors and the membership at large vote to approve a merger between MMBC and KCBB. The Board also approves creation of a donor center at the Bern Township office location.

2001

Miller Memorial Blood Center becomes the fourth not-for-profit community blood organization in the United States to achieve the ISO9001 quality certification. Keystone Community Blood Bank (Reading, PA) merges into Miller Memorial Blood Center operations. KCBB’s newly constructed Mark S. Reed Donor Center is dedicated in January; whole blood donations are immediately collected, and an apheresis (platelet) program becomes operational in February.

2002

A second self-contained bloodmobile coach is purchased by MMBC to meet increased demand for blood products and services in our region. Keystone Community Blood Bank establishes a web presence on the Blood Center’s site, located at www.hcsc.org/blood. In July, Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital, Lehighton, PA, joins MMBC’s blood service program.

2003

On June 17, simultaneous press conferences are held in Bethlehem and Reading to announce the newly-merged name of Miller-Keystone Blood Center, and to unveil a new, unified logo for the organization. On July 1, St. Luke’s Miners Memorial Hospital (Coaldale, PA) joins the blood services program. Major construction activity takes place at the Bethlehem headquarters, including the establishment of a Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) laboratory and the re-location and expansion of the collections area.

2004

MKBC announces establishment of a new Donor Testing Services division, which will allow Miller-Keystone to test blood donor samples for both our region and other blood centers nationwide. A new self-contained bloodmobile coach and mini-bloodmobile coach are added to the Blood Center’s fleet of blood collection vehicles. The Allentown donor center moves into a larger space at 1255 S. Cedar Crest Boulevard in April, and in August, a new donor center is opened at 2925 William Penn Highway in Easton.

Effective Nov. 1, 2004, Miller-Keystone becomes the exclusive blood provider to the Greater Hazleton Health Alliance (Hazleton, PA). To provide donors in this region with more convenient opportunities to donate, a new fixed site donor center opens at The Beltway Commons, 132 Airport Road, Hazleton, in October.

2005

A second mini-bloodmobile is added to the Blood Center’s fleet of blood collection vehicles.

2006

In July, a new Blue Bird Forward Control Bloodmobile is added to the Blood Center’s fleet of blood collection vehicles.

Plainfield Volunteer Fire Company (Wind Gap) and MKBC partner to host weekly blood drives at the Fire Hall. These drives are held every Thursday, as well as every-other Tuesday.

2007

To help ensure that MKBC continues to meet the complex challenges of providing a safe, stable and constant blood supply, the Blood Center establishes an Endowment Fund. All monies deposited into this fund are invested and continue to grow; the interest on this money is used for pressing service programs and technology needs.

The Blood Center adds the new Abbott Prism System into its Laboratory operations. This blood screening instrument consolidates many testing operations into a single, automated system, reducing the number of times a test sample is handled, improving operating safety and efficiency for the Blood Center.

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church (Quakertown) and MKBC partner to host monthly bloodmobile drives at the Church. These drives are held the third Monday of every month. This is increased to the first and third Monday of each month in 2010.
In December, MKBC adds a new test to screen blood donations for Chagas disease. This disease, common to Central and South America, is rare in the US; however recent immigration growth increases the potential risk factor for transmission.

2008

Miller-Keystone Blood Center is named a “Center of Excellence” by Gambro BCT. One of three centers in the nation to receive this designation, MKBC serves as a model for use of the Vista Information System software.

In the spring, MKBC – along with blood centers throughout the country – implemented the ISBT128 labeling system. This system increases the level of standardization in transfusion medicine, and allows for every blood product to be specifically identified and tracked anywhere in the world.
In July, the new Angela Hohl Memorial Bloodmobile is added to the Blood Center’s fleet of blood collection vehicles.

2009

In January, the Blood Center resumes complimentary cholesterol screening for blood donors. Previous cholesterol screening equipment was rendered obsolete in June 2008 because it was not compatible with a new industry-mandated labeling system.
The Blood Center announces that baby-sitting services are available while individuals donate blood. The pilot program began on Monday mornings and Wednesday evenings at MKBC’s Bethlehem location, with plans to expand the program to its Allentown, Easton and Reading sites as well.

2010

The Blood Center ships units of blood to Haiti to support medical services provided after a devastating earthquake.

HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) testing is implemented, to identify what products can best be produced from a specific donor’s unit of blood. A 2nd Abbott Prism and a 2nd Biotest Tango (blood testing instruments) are interfaced with our blood bank management system, to help provide testing results in a more timely manner.

An agreement is signed with Northampton Community College to be a clinical site for students in the new Phlebotomy program. Students from The Reading Hospital Clinical Laboratory Program also visit the Blood Center for lecture and clinical training.
A new Quality Assurance software system is implemented to automate business processes, eliminate paperwork, and achieve compliance with regulatory agencies. A new Affirmative Action Plan for the Blood Center is completed, as part of an agreement with the Department of Defense to provide laboratory testing services.

Effective July 1, Miller-Keystone becomes the exclusive blood provider to Brandywine Hospital (Coatesville, PA) and Phoenixville Hospital (Phoenixville, PA); and effective September 1, Grand View Hospital (Sellersville, PA), joins the blood services program. This brings the number of customers served on a sole source basis to 21 hospitals in 10 PA and NJ counties.

2011

MKBC opens a new donor center to serve residents in the Chester County (PA) area, located in the Lionville Shopping Center, 128 Eagleview Boulevard, Lionville.

Miller-Keystone’s Hazleton Donor Center begins bi-monthly platelet collections, on the first and third Friday of each month.
On July 1, Miller-Keystone Blood Center becomes the exclusive blood provider to Chestnut Hill Hospital (Philadelphia, PA).
In October 2011, the St. Luke’s Anderson Hospital opens in Easton, PA, bringing the number of customers served on a sole source basis to 23 hospitals in 11 PA and NJ counties.

2012

On January 1, Miller-Keystone Blood Center becomes the exclusive blood provider to Jennersville Regional Hospital (West Grove, PA).
Effective September 1, MKBC is named as the service provider to Hunterdon Medical Center (Flemington, NJ), increasing the number of customers served to 25 hospitals in 12 PA and NJ counties.

2013

Peter J. Castagna, Jr. is named as President & CEO, succeeding J. Michael Lee, DBA, FACHE who retires after a 33-year tenure.

On July 1, 2013, Miller-Keystone Blood Center becomes the exclusive blood supplier to Schuylkill Medical Center – South Jackson and Schuylkill Medical Center – East Norwegian in Pottsville, PA, bringing the numbers of customers served on a sole source basis to 27 hospitals in 12 PA and NJ counties.

Satellite locations are also added at the Hazle Township Commons building and at Western Pocono Community Library in Brodheadsville.

Online/internet portals are added for both blood donors and blood drive coordinators. Highlights of the portals include online scheduling for blood drives and our donor center locations, as well as the ability for donors to review their donation history and test results electronically.

2014

A new Miller-Keystone Blood Center website is launched at GIVEaPINT.org. Features of the new site include improved navigation for easy access to information on donating blood, planning a blood drive, events and promotions, providing financial support, or becoming a volunteer.

2015

MKBC implements iScreen, a secure internet-based system that allows a donor to answer his/her donor history questions confidentially. After completing the questionnaire, the donor prints out or emails to his/her smart phone a bar-coded ticket that contains their hidden responses, which they bring with them for their scheduled donation. The new iScreen process saves time, provides privacy, adds convenience and helps save the environment, as it is a paperless option.
The Blood Center launches its “Local Leader” campaign to recognize schools, businesses, church groups and other organizations who go above and beyond the call of duty to support their community. By hosting blood drives with MKBC and collecting a minimum of 200 donations during the year, the organizations are presented with a plaque and featured on the Blood Center’s website and social media.
Looking to attract more young donors, MKBC establishes its High School Hero Cord Program, which provides an opportunity for high school students to earn a red cord to wear at their graduation ceremony.
Effective December 1, Miller-Keystone becomes the exclusive blood provider to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Dauphin County.

2016

MKBC launches its “Lifesaver Rewards” program and donor store, awarding donor points for each contribution made that can be redeemed in the store for a variety of items including gift cards, t-shirts, hats or coffee mugs. Points can also be contributed to MKBC’s Scholarship Program. A second rewards store for Blood Drive coordinators is also launched to recognize and reward the important role they serve as our Blood Drive sponsors and chairpersons.

New iTable technology is piloted at the Bethlehem Donor Center. The iTables, complete with a PC tablet and work space, enable automated donors to have the flexibility to watch a movie, check email or surf the net during their donation process.

MKBC announces its “Celebrate Hope” campaign, which seeks to unite local transfusion recipients with the blood donors who helped save their lives.

MKBC’s Student Volunteer Scholarship award is renamed in honor of two of its most dedicated volunteers, Bill and Jackie Younger of Catasauqua (PA). Bill and Jackie were both devoted volunteers who donated more than 25,000 hours of service to the Blood Center. In addition to their volunteer service, they were both dedicated blood donors, having donated more than 43 gallons, saving the lives of thousands in our community.

2017

Miller-Keystone becomes the exclusive blood provider to the St. Luke’s University Health Network’s new hospital located in Monroe County.
MKBC completes installation of the Vista project, with is designed to automate blood loss tracking by reducing human error and product attrition, while also improving access to reporting.

2018

Miller-Keystone Blood Center assumes donor recruitment and blood collection activities in the Trenton, NJ area previously served by the Community Blood Council of New Jersey (CBCNJ), including oversight of a donor center at 1410 Parkside Avenue, Ewing Township.

2019

Miller-Keystone Blood Center, in collaboration with Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank and New York Blood Center, is announced as blood supplier to the Geisinger health system, which includes six (6) hospitals in Northeast Pennsylvania.

The Blood Center establishes its “Adopt-a-Day” program, which enables smaller groups/organizations who do not have the necessary space available to run a blood drive or the minimum number of individuals available to donate on-site to host a blood drive at an MKBC donor center instead. This provides the organization’s employees, family and friends to give the gift of life while the sponsoring organization is recognized in the community.

2020

To accommodate blood donors in MKBC’s Northeast Pennsylvania region, a donor center location is added in Pittston, PA. The location includes three (3) donor chairs for whole blood collections and three (3) chairs for automated collections (red cells, platelets or plasma).

The COVID-19 pandemic forces blood centers across the nation, including MKBC, to implement modifications to many of their practices and procedures. This includes the temporary suspension of on-site bloodmobile drives, changes to scheduling practices to adhere to social distancing recommendations, and temporarily adopting an appointment-only policy.

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, MKBC establishes its Convalescent Plasma Program (CCP). When a person becomes ill with COVID-19, it can take a patient time to develop antibodies needed to combat the disease. Post-recovery, these patients have these antibodies in their plasma. By collecting this plasma and giving it to critically ill coronavirus patients, the goal is to provide a boost to the patient’s antibodies and help stimulate recovery. While experimental, the FDA announced the emergency authorization of Convalescent Plasma to treat COVID19 patients on August 23, 2020.

2021

A ribbon-cutting is held for MKBC’s newest bloodmobile vehicle, which was made possible through the generosity of the Air Products Foundation. * MKBC updates and re-launches its High School Hero Blood Donor Recruitment Scholarship opportunity, which guarantees a scholarship award for any participating high school that achieves a minimum of 50 points annually.  * MKBC joins the National Blood Testing Cooperative (NBTC), which provides high-quality testing services to its owner-members by eliminating unnecessary profit mark-ups that large testing entities charge.  * MKBC hosts a ribbon-cutting for its new Hamilton Donor Center, 740 W. Hamilton St, Suite 120. This new location is anticipated to collect approximately 4,500 lifesaving blood products annually, including red blood cells and platelets.

2023

The Blood Center announces the launch of its Diversity Initiative, made possible through the generosity of a grant from the Highmark Foundation.  The goal of the program is to raise awareness of the importance of blood donations, particularly within the region’s Hispanic population. * A Ribbon Cutting is held for MKBC’s Easton Donor Center in its recently updated location at 3765 Nicholas St, Suite B (next door to Redners). * MKBC launches the “Drops” recruitment campaign, established as an additional method to reach members of the community to encourage them to donate blood. “Drops” partners receive monthly customized messaging in multiple formats, based on how the organization communicates with its employees (newsletter, email, digital signage, social media). Content may include general information on the importance of donating blood, donor eligibility information, MKBC Donor Center locations, upcoming Blood Center events/promotions, and more.

2024

Miller-Keystone launches a newly redesigned website at GIVEaPINT.org. The site is easier to navigate, with improvements in responsiveness and capabilities. Site options provide clear and easy-to-find links to MKBC locations, online appointment scheduling, and iScreen (online medical screening application), as well as real-time information on the status of the community’s blood supply and more. * MKBC also launches its new donor mobile app for Android and Apple devices, providing donors with a connection to their community blood center at their fingertips. Features of the app include immediate access to eligibility date, community blood drive search, completing one’s donor history questionnaire from a mobile device, convenient access to one’s past donation history and mini-health check results, tracking rewards store points and redeeming for merchandise/e-gift cards at MKBC’s online store, and more. * A monthly community e-newsletter and a quarterly legislative e-newsletter are published and distributed throughout MKBC's service area. * A ribbon-cutting is held at Miller-Keystone's new Southside Bethlehem satellite, in space generously donated by BSI Corporate Benefits.  An additional satellite location launches in NEPA, in space graciously donted by St. Luke's Monroe County site. * The Blood Center hosts its first annual Spring and Fall Appreciation Series events in Reading and Center Valley. * The Blood Center’s updates its donor rewards program, rebranded as the Frequent Lifesaver Club. The Club recognizes and rewards dedicated donors for saving lives through the generous act of voluntary blood donation. Donors earn points for each donation, and the points can be exchanged for a variety of e-gift cards and other items. * MKBC's Platelet Warrior Club and Universal Hero Club are established to recognize blood donors for their lifesaving gift. The Universal Hero Club honors Universal Blood Donors (O-negative) and Universal Plasma Donors (AB-positive, AB- negative), as well as O-positive Donors for their commitment to the community’s blood supply. * Platelets help control bleeding. They are crucial for accident victims, surgery patients, burn victims, and cancer patients. With a usable lifespan of only seven days, platelets are in constant demand for life-saving treatment. Our Platelet Warrior Club recognizes our dedicated platelet donors with a special gift when he or she completes his/her commitment.

2025

After 11 years of dedicated service, President & CEO Pete Castagna retires effective 12/31/24. On 1/1/2025, MKBC Chief Operating Officer, Rami Nemeh, assumes the role of President & CEO. * On January 14, the Blood Center launches its monthly podcast, "Your Blood. Their Hope." available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever someone listens to his/her favorite broadcasts!

Our Board and Leadership Team

Guiding the Vision and Excellence of Our Agency

Meet our Mascot

Half-Pint!

Hi! My name is Half-Pint, and I’m a bloodhound. I’m from the Lehigh Valley. I’m 7 feet tall and I weigh 300 pounds. I know what you’re thinking –”Half-Pint” definitely suits me!

I’m here to seek out blood donors and make new friends – I’ll be your BEST FRIEND! I’m a little shy at times, but I love meeting all of our lifesaving blood donors… and I sure can’t wait to meet YOU!

I like jumping into water and mud puddles, receiving scratches behind the ears, and eating dog bones! I also really like cookies – especially the ones in the canteen after donating blood. Most of all… I love helping to save lives!

half pint

Miller-Keystone

proud members of

ABOUT HCSC

Hospital Central Services

Hospital Central Services, Inc. & Affiliates (HCSC) is dedicated to providing our employees with opportunities that promote not only the goals of our company, but their own personal aspirations as well. Employees at HCSC are given the opportunity to work for a growing organization, committed to and recognized for our dedication to customer service, quality products and services, and cost containment.

vISIT HCSC

MKBC

Community Partners

blood donar hospital near me
berkone
lehigh valley
valley builders
Become a Partner
VIEW ALL

latest news

STAY CONNECTED

Click for nearest Donor Center
Facebook Linkedin Instagram Youtube

Quick Links

Get Involved

Login

Stay Connected

©2024 Miller-Keystone Blood Center is an affiliate of Hospital Central Services | Privacy Policy I Terms of Use I Site By: DAY Vision Marketing

Blood donate