THACKERVILLE, OK-Oklahoma Blood Institute has found an easier way to keep track of blood donors using advanced technology. OBI now uses Bio-key technology which provides a donor biometric fingerprint identification. In order to give blood, soon all donors will need is their finger to check in.

Tuesday OBI hosted a blood drive at WinStar Casino in Thackerville and employees were the first to enroll in the new Bio-key system.

"The efficiency of it all is worth any of the initial trouble of going through the biometric screening process it's all really easy, and as forgetful as am I need all the help I can get in keeping track of that stuff so it helps immensely" said WinStar poker room manager, Jay Wiles.

The Bio-key technology will not only benefit donor systems but it will make the process easier on donors especially those giving blood at work.

"It will be a lot quicker for them a lot easier on our employees who are coming off the floor who may just have their badge and don't have their actually ID with them so they just come in and they get their finger print and their through the process a lot quicker" said WinStar senior operations manager, Rick Reding.

Karen Snyder with OBI says Bio-key technology has been around for thirty years and donors should not be concerned about the security of their fingerprint.

"It turns into a mathematical equation so it cannot be reversed into a finger print we only use it for ourselves so any concerns about safety, there's not a way to get it back to a fingerprint" said OBI manger training & education, Karen Synder.

Donors do not seem to mind.

"I think it's great i mean you know we are getting fingerprinted for state drivers licenses now and that kind of thing so its just another form of identification that's much quicker and easier" said WinStar senior operations manager, Rick Reding.

"It certainly helps with the efficiency of the screening process which is important to all of us if we can get people in and out more quickly we end up with a bigger drive at the end which is what we all want" said WinStar poker room manager, Jay Wiles.

OBI says this new system will cut down on duplicate records for example, donors who have gotten married since the last time they gave blood. The new system will soon be used in Ardmore as well.