Why should we donate blood?
Blood contains many life-saving components that can help to treat different illnesses and injuries. For many people,blood donors are their life-line. Blood donation gives a proud feeling of touching someone's life in such a beautiful way. It's an experience that no words can define. You have to donate blood yourself to find out. You also benefit in other ways by donating blood as it reduces the chances of ischemic heart diseases (beginning of heart problems) as frequent donations reduce the accumulated and unwanted iron load from the body. Your blood donation will also get you your blood insurance from us. By keeping the blood line flowing, you will greatly contribute towards a healthier, happier society. Do remember, any one may require blood any time including ourselves and our dear ones.
Is Donating Blood Safe?
Blood donation takes only about 45 minutes and it is a safe procedure. In general, blood donation, whether whole blood or aphaeresis does not usually have significant adverse effects on a donor's health. Donors give about 10-12% of their circulating blood volume during each blood donation. Healthy adult donors who meet the required
screening
criteria should be able to donate safely and regularly. If you ask any regular blood donor about it, a small percentage of first time donors may psychologically feel a little dizzy but only for a few minutes. The Doctors staff at the blood drive will ensure that your first blood donation is a happy experience.Can I get any disease like AIDS or Hepatitis or any other disease by
Blood donation?
That is impossible. We use only brand new, sterile, disposable needles for each and every donor. These needles are discarded after each use. Donors can therefore never catch any infectious diseases from blood donation. This totally eliminates any remote chance of catching any disease from blood donation.
How much Blood and how often can I donate?
You can donate blood every 12 weeks, up to 4 times a year. Eligible donors (any body between 18 to 60 years of age and leading a healthy life) with weight above 50 kgs. can donate up to 450 ml of blood. Your body can replenish this volume within 24 hours.
How frequently can I donate Blood?
Males — Every 3 months.
Females — Every 4 months.
Females — Every 4 months.
Why should I become a regular blood donor?
As you know, blood is a life saving medicine, which works wonders in certain medical treatments, and life threatening situations. Our society is today threatened by scarcity of blood and the only blood source today is human being. This issue has got further complexes by professional donors, who donate blood for money. These donors have contributed towards rapid spread of killer diseases like AIDS, Hepatitis B & Hepatitis C in the society. Your regular donation will go a long way in salvaging the situation.
What Types of Blood Donation are There?
General Blood Donation
450-mL, or less than 1 pint, of whole blood is collected from each donor in a plastic bag that contains an anticoagulant preservative.
Apheresis Component Donation
Apheresis is a specialized form of blood donation in which only one specific blood component (platelets, plasma or red cells) are extracted from the donor. It is slightly more physically demanding than a whole blood donation. The process is also longer, about 45 to 90 minutes.
Donate Blood Plasma can be carried on very casually. After donating the blood you can even go for work. The blood volume or plasma is replaced within a day. Four to eight weeks are needed for complete replacement of the red cells.
450-mL, or less than 1 pint, of whole blood is collected from each donor in a plastic bag that contains an anticoagulant preservative.
Apheresis Component Donation
Apheresis is a specialized form of blood donation in which only one specific blood component (platelets, plasma or red cells) are extracted from the donor. It is slightly more physically demanding than a whole blood donation. The process is also longer, about 45 to 90 minutes.
Donate Blood Plasma can be carried on very casually. After donating the blood you can even go for work. The blood volume or plasma is replaced within a day. Four to eight weeks are needed for complete replacement of the red cells.
What is Apheresis or Automated Donation?
Automated donation is a type of blood donation during which blood components (platelets, plasma, or red blood cells) are donated. This is different than donating whole blood. The automated collection system used at TBC allows for any combination of platelets, plasma, or red blood cell units to be donated.
What is plateletpheresis?
Plateletpheresis (pronounced Plate-let-fer-E-sis) is the process of collecting platelets from a donor. Using a system the platelets are collected, and the plasma and red blood cells are returned to the donor.
Just as in whole blood donation, a needle is inserted in a donor’s arm. Blood is drawn or collected through closed sterile tubing that passes through a centrifuge, which separates platelets from the whole blood. The platelets are collected in a sterile collection bag with almost all red cells and plasma returned to the donor via the same needle.
New sterile tubing and collection bags are used for each donor. You are never exposed to the blood of any other donor.
Who can donate platelets with apheresis?
Almost anyone who is a whole blood donor can donate platelets. You are eligible if you are at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health. You can donate platelets every 7 days or a total of 24 times per year. Platelet donors must not take aspirin or products containing aspirin within 48 hours of their donation. Aspirin consumption takes away the “stickiness” of platelets causing the platelets to lose their ability to adhere properly when needed to stop bleeding.
Platelet donors must not take Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) within 24 hours of donating. NSAIDS contain analgesic (for pain) and antipyretic (for fever) properties, which mimic the action of aspirin and interfere with platelet function for up to the first 24 hours after taking the medication.
Apheresis Facts
- Apheresis usually refers to platelets, which are the most common components drawn through this method.
- In the human body, platelets are the first step in the clotting process.
- Apheresis donors give about 10% of their platelets, with no loss in clotting ability.
- Bone marrow transplant, cancer, and leukemia patients benefit significantly from platelets, which greatly reduce the chances of rejection.
- It takes about 1 to 1.5 hours to collect enough platelets to help bone marrow transplant, cancer, and leukemia patients.
- Donors with high platelet counts often are able to donate two or three units of platelets in one visit.
- The collection bags, tubing and needles are all sterile, and used for one donation only. The donor’s blood never comes in direct contact with the system.
- Individuals can donate platelets frequently (every 7 days) because platelets are rapidly replaced, usually within one day.
- Once collected, platelets must be transfused within five days or be discarded.
- On average, leukemia patients require more than 20 platelet transfusions over a six-month period.
- Many critically ill patients require tissue-typed platelets (HLA matches). Regular donors are typed and used to meet these needs. The chance for an exact patient-donor match is 1 in 20,000. HLA-typed donors are encouraged to join the National Bone Marrow Registry. To learn more about HLA Typing and about how easy it is to help critically ill patients nationally and locally, click here.
Common Questions
Which donation is needed most often, platelets or whole blood?
Both are always needed. The rarest blood type and blood component is the one that’s not available when a patient needs it. Our staff can advise you of the need when you
Both are always needed. The rarest blood type and blood component is the one that’s not available when a patient needs it. Our staff can advise you of the need when you
register
to donate.
If I donate platelets, when can I give whole blood?
You only have to wait 7 days before you can give whole blood after donating platelets since very few red blood cells (approximately 32 milliliters) are lost during a platelet donation. However, if you donate whole blood first, you must wait 56 days before you can donate platelets or any other blood product due to the fact that you lose approximately 200 milliliters of red blood cells during whole blood donations.
You only have to wait 7 days before you can give whole blood after donating platelets since very few red blood cells (approximately 32 milliliters) are lost during a platelet donation. However, if you donate whole blood first, you must wait 56 days before you can donate platelets or any other blood product due to the fact that you lose approximately 200 milliliters of red blood cells during whole blood donations.
Does it hurt?
You may feel an initial pinch or sting with the needle, but you should not feel discomfort during the donation. Some donors experience tingling during the donation, but increasing calcium in your diet prior to donating helps alleviate this symptom.
You may feel an initial pinch or sting with the needle, but you should not feel discomfort during the donation. Some donors experience tingling during the donation, but increasing calcium in your diet prior to donating helps alleviate this symptom.
Is there a chance of contracting a disease from the equipment?
No! A disposable, sterile donation kit is used for each donor. The tubing and needles are disposed of after each donation.
No! A disposable, sterile donation kit is used for each donor. The tubing and needles are disposed of after each donation.
How long does it take?
The actual platelet donation time takes between 1 to 1.5 hours. This depends on the donor’s platelet count, and total blood volume.
The actual platelet donation time takes between 1 to 1.5 hours. This depends on the donor’s platelet count, and total blood volume.
What will I do during my donation?
Most donors watch videos (we have over 200 to choose from). Others prefer to listen to music, look out the window, or just enjoy the company of our friendly, professional staff.
Most donors watch videos (we have over 200 to choose from). Others prefer to listen to music, look out the window, or just enjoy the company of our friendly, professional staff.
How will I feel after I donate?
You will feel great about giving others a fighting chance at life. Physicially, you should feel perfectly fine. Only a small percentage of your platelets are collected, and are replaced within 24 hours. You should not feel tired or lightheaded since you loose such a small amount of red blood cells. Try to avoid strenuous exercise or lifting after donating.
You will feel great about giving others a fighting chance at life. Physicially, you should feel perfectly fine. Only a small percentage of your platelets are collected, and are replaced within 24 hours. You should not feel tired or lightheaded since you loose such a small amount of red blood cells. Try to avoid strenuous exercise or lifting after donating.
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