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 The history of one of the country’s oldest blood centers began in 1942 in Shreveport, Louisiana when civic minded residents decided a blood bank was needed for emergencies created by World War II, for use by the military services, and as a safety measure to treat dreaded diseases.
The Shreveport Medical Society and the Chamber of Commerce endorsed and approved the project. A little more than $10,000 was raised for the Shreveport Memorial Blood Bank to open its doors on April 5, 1943. This civilian blood bank was the second of its type in the United States. The blood center distributed 694 units of plasma in its first year of operation
After rapid growth in the 1970’s, the blood center changed its name to the Louisiana Blood Center. Louisiana Blood Center expanded its operations into Alexandria, Monroe and Lake Charles, Louisiana. In 1986, the Blood Center of Southeast Texas in Beaumont merged with Louisiana Blood Center.
In 1996, Louisiana Blood Center/Blood Center of Southeast Texas became LifeShare Blood Centers. Only the name changed. The name LifeShare was selected as a way to identify exactly what we do… share life.
Today, LifeShare Blood Centers has six primary blood center locations in three regions, in addition to several satellite offices and mall facilities. Over 160,000 units of blood products are transfused to patients in more than 80 hospitals in the LifeShare Blood Centers service area. The continuation of a dream has made possible the availability of one of the world’s most precious resources… blood. | 
