-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 K/Lyl+Vnb18L14HviQ72ovXg1J4DaUrjo+VBlenfMlsKtcbf0bK7CV2RQODhpI+e
 AAO6ib6poQVrTjSTpSRy5A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-08-017808.txt : 20081003
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-08-017808.hdr.sgml : 20081003
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081003174842
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-08-017808
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081001
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081003
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081003

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHILTON ROBERT S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001266061

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15223
		FILM NUMBER:		081107754

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		21101 OXNARD ST
		CITY:			WOODLAND HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91367
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8182261968

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HEMACARE CORP /CA/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000801748
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-MISC HEALTH & ALLIED SERVICES, NEC [8090]
		IRS NUMBER:				953280412
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		15350 SHERMAN WAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 350
		CITY:			VAN NUYS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91406
		BUSINESS PHONE:		818-226-1968

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		15350 SHERMAN WAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 350
		CITY:			VAN NUYS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91406
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-10-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000801748</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HEMACARE CORP /CA/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HEMA.OB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001266061</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHILTON ROBERT S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>15350 SHERMAN WAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 350</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>VAN NUYS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91406</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CFO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>.53</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-10-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-09-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">25% vest annually starting October 1, 2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert S. Chilton</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-10-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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