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CORVALLIS - Oregon State University, which is one of the Pacific Northwest's leading contributors to the American Red Cross blood drive, will host its annual three-day fall blood drive Nov. 10-12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in OSU's Memorial Union Ballroom.

American Red Cross blood drives are held four times a year on the OSU campus, said Douglas Tracy, Red Cross spokesman. The drives typically collect up to 1,000 pints of blood and help as many as 4,000 people, he said.

"Oregon State University is the biggest drive we have in the Northwest Region," Tracy said. The region includes 52 counties in Oregon and Washington. Donors unable to attend the campus sessions can call the Red Cross at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to locate the nearest blood center or drive.

Red Cross Pacific Northwest Regional Blood Services serves 90 hospitals in more than 30 counties in Oregon and Washington. Giving blood takes less than one hour. Donors must be healthy, at least 17 years old, and weigh 105 pounds or more.

The Red Cross has the capability to move blood to where it is needed through its National Inventory Management System based in St. Louis. The Red Cross particularly encourages people with type O blood to donate, because type O blood can be given to patients with any blood type, especially in emergency situations.

For more information, contact Bonnie Robeson at 541-967-7982.

The top 10 sponsors for blood in the Pacific Northwest Region during the 1997-98 fiscal year, as provided by the American Red Cross, include:

1) Oregon State University, 2,852 units

2) Western Oregon University, 893 units

3) Tektronix-Beaverton, 797 units

4) Oregon Institute of Technology, 639 units

5) Intel-Jones Farm, 602 units

6) Boeing of Portland, 545 units

7) Dallas Civic Center, 542 units

8) Intel-Ronler Acres, 523 units

9) Hewlett-Packard of Corvallis, 510 units

10) Intel-Aloha, 481 units