A program in which an individual may deposit one or more units of his own blood to be kept in the frozen state in a special blood bank under close supervision for his later use in case of elective surgery or emergency. Such programs are typically operated by private corporations, which charge a fee (1986) of roughly $150 per unit of blood for long-term storage, and about one third that amount for short-term storage. Autologous frozen blood programs are gaining adherents because of the threat of transmission of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), as well as other diseases, by transfusion.