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Donating
Platelets
If you're blood type is A or AB,
you are especially needed as a platelet
donor! |
Who Needs
Platelets?
Many lifesaving medical treatments require platelet transfusions. Cancer
patients, those receiving organ or bone marrow transplants, victims of
traumatic injuries, and patients undergoing open heart surgery require
platelet transfusions to survive.
Because
platelets can be stored for only five days, the need for
platelet donations is vast and continuous.
Platelet
transfusions are needed each year by thousands of patients like these:
- Heart surgery
patient
6 units
- Burn patient
20 units
- Organ
transplant patient
30 units
- Bone marrow
transplant patient
120 units
Who Can be an
Apheresis Donor?
If you meet the requirements for
donating blood, you probably can give platelets. Apheresis donors must:
- be at least
18 years old
- be in good
health
- weigh at
least 120 pounds
- not have
taken aspirin, products containing aspirin or feldene within, 72 hours
prior to donation.
How Does the
Procedure Work?
Blood is drawn from your arm through sterile tubing into a bowl spinning in
a centrifuge. The spinning bowl fills with blood and the components are
separated into layers or bands by weight and density. A valve opens when the
platelet band reaches the top of the bowl. These
platelets are
stored in a collection bag outside the machine, while the remaining blood
components (red cells
and plasma) are
returned to you. This draw and return process is repeated 6-8 times.
How Long Does
it Take?
Depending on your weight and height, the apheresis donation process will
take approximately 70 minutes to two hours. You may watch television or
videotapes, listen to music, or simply sit back and relax while helping to
save a life.
What are
Platelets?
Platelets are
blood cells that help control bleeding. When a blood vessel is damaged,
platelets collect at the site of the injury and temporarily repair the tear.
Platelets then activate substances in plasma which form a clot and allow the
wound to heal.
What is
Apheresis?
Apheresis (ay-fur-ee-sis) is a special kind of blood donation that allows a
donor to give a specific blood component, such as platelets. During the
apheresis procedure, all but the needed blood component is returned to the
donor.
Why is Blood
Separated?
Different patients need different types of blood components, depending on
their illness or injury. After you donate whole blood, the unit is separated
into platelets,
red cells and
plasma
in our laboratory. Only two tablespoons of platelets are collected
from a whole blood donation. Six whole blood donations must be separated and
pooled to provide a single platelet transfusion. However, one apheresis
donation provides enough platelets for one complete transfusion -- that's
six times the amount collected from a whole blood donation.
Are Apheresis
Donations Safe?
Yes. Each donation is closely supervised throughout the procedure by trained
staff. A small percentage of your platelets are collected, so there is no
risk of bleeding problems. Your body will replace the donated platelets
within 24 hours. The donation equipment (needle, tubing, collection bags)
are sterile and discarded after every donation, making it virtually
impossible to contract a disease from the process.
How Can I
Become an Apheresis Donor?
If you live in North Florida, or South Georgia, call the Southeastern
Community Blood Center Apheresis Coordinator for more information at
850-877-7181.
Revised:
12/31/07
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