<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-08</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000801748</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HEMACARE CORP /CA/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HEMA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001232812</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VAN DER TUUK TERRY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>.93</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-05-09</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-05-08</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>25000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Stock options granted under the Company's 1996 Stock Incentive Plan.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>JoAnn Stover on behalf of Terry Van Der Tuuk pursuant to the attached Power of Attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-19</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

