What is Blood and what are the Donation Methods

What is Blood?




Blood is made up of four main components. Red blood cells, platelets, plasma and white blood cells. Each whole blood donation has the potential to save up to three lives.

Donation Methods 


There’s more than one way to give blood. Let your blood type lead the way in targeting the best way for you to donate your powerful lifesaving gift.


Whole Blood Donation 


Whole blood donation is what most people are familiar with. This is the traditional way of donating and allows us to draw a pint of blood containing red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma at one time.
People with O type blood and those with certain RH negative blood types are encouraged to donate whole blood.
People with the following blood types should consider donating Whole Blood:

A Positive

O Positive  O Negative 

  A Negative 
 B Negative 
  • How Often Can You Donate Whole Blood?
    Every 56 days for a total of 6 donations a year.



Double Red Cell Donation

Double Red Cells
When donating double red blood cells we only collect your red blood cells and not your platelets or plasma. This type of donation is done using a process called automation (sometimes referred to as Apheresis).
Automated technology allows donors to give twice the amount of their red cells than compared to a whole blood donation.  Automation enables us to collect only the most needed component(s) of the donor’s blood.   Red blood cells are the most transfused blood product. People with O type blood and those with certain Rh negative blood types are encouraged to donate double red blood cells because it is their red cells that are in the highest demand by the hospitals. 
  • People with the following blood types should consider donating Double Red Blood Cells:

A Positive 


 O Positive  

 O Negative 
  A Negative 
 B Negative 
    • Who is eligible to donate double red blood cells?
      Donors must meet certain requirements to donate double red blood cells:
      • Males
        Must weigh at least 130 pounds and be 5’1” or taller.
      • Females
        Must weigh at least 150 pounds and be 5’5” or taller. (Yes, this is correct. Requirements are based on blood volume, which is typically lower in females than in males.)
    • How often can I donate double red cells?
      Every 112 days for a total of 3 donations a year.



    Platelet Donation

    Platelets
    Platelets hold a unique power to save lives. Cancer patients are a primary recipient of platelets due to the harsh effects of chemotherapy.
    Platelet donations are done using a process called automation (sometimes referred to as apheresis). Automation allows us to collect specific components of your blood at a larger volume. For example, one automated platelet donation produces one or more complete platelet doses for a patient. It would take six to eight whole blood donors pooled together to produce one complete platelet dose.

    People with the following blood types should consider donating Platelets.

       
    A Positive  O Positive   
    B Positive  
    AB Negative 
    AB Positive 

    How often can you donate platelets?

    You can donate platelets every 7 days and can give up to 24 times a year. If you have donated whole blood, you must wait at least 7 days before you can donate platelets. 

    What are the best days to donate platelets?

    In routine circumstances, the best days to donate platelets are Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday to meet hospital needs. In times of critical need, the best day to donate platelets is today. 


    Plasma Donation

    Plasma
    Plasma has the clotting factors that stop patients from bleeding. Trauma patients, burn patients and transplant patients are often recipients of plasma.
    Plasma is collected through a process called automation (sometimes referred to as apheresis). This technology enables us to collect plasma and/or plasma and platelets and not the donor’s red blood cells.
    People with AB type blood are the universal plasma donors. This means their plasma can be transfused into any patient, regardless of the recipients’ blood type.
    People with the following blood types should consider donating Plasma:
    AB Negative 
    AB Positive 
    • How Often Can You Donate Plasma?
      Every 28 days and can give up to 12 times a year.

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