State Sen. Kathy Sheran, DFL – Mankato, and Rep. Patti Fritz, DFL – Faribault, joined Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota on May 18 as he signed into law new legislation that will allow 16 year old teens in the state to donate blood with the consent of their parent or guardian.

Food and Drug Administration fined the Red Cross $4.6 million after the latter did not make it to test blood donations and questioning donors.

People Nationwide Encouraged to Make a Blood Donation to Honor Blood Collectors and Support Their Communities. Type O negative is the universal blood type for red cells, and type AB is the universal blood type for platelet and plasma donors.