Mobile blood donation is a service that involves a mobile blood donation center, also known as a bloodmobile. It is a vehicle, usually a bus or a large van, equipped with everything necessary for a blood donation procedure. Blood drives involving bloodmobiles are community-based and can be hosted at various locations, such as companies, organizations, or places of worship. The bloodmobiles are self-sufficient and self-contained, with soundproof medical history booths, blood donation beds, and a refreshment area. Each bloodmobile is staffed with a nurse, phlebotomists, and a driver.

Mobile blood donation is an efficient way to collect blood from donors. For example, in the 1950s, mobile blood units could collect from 200 donors in six hours. Today, mobile blood drives can be organized by blood collection centers using mobile apps like Blood Donor Mobile, which enables blood donors to find blood drives, record their donations, and set eligibility reminders.

There are different types of blood donations, including whole blood donation, power red donation, and platelet donation. Whole blood donation is the most flexible type of donation and can be transfused in its original form or used to help multiple people when separated into its specific components of red cells, plasma, and platelets. Power red donation involves giving a concentrated dose of red cells, while platelet donation collects platelets along with some plasma, returning red cells and most of the plasma back to the donor.