Platelet Donation

With a platelet donation you can have a powerful and immediate impact on a cancer patient’s life! Your platelet donation is transfused to a patient within a week and could help keep them alive. Platelets are most often used to help cancer patients, but also help patients with blood disorders or those undergoing open-heart surgery and organ transplants. Because platelets must be transfused within a week, platelet donors are constantly needed to keep the supply stable.

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Single Donor Platelet

Donating platelets is slightly different than a traditional whole blood donation. The process is called apheresis donation, an automated procedure in which whole blood goes into a machine that isolates and takes just the platelets, then returns the other blood components—plasma, red cells and white cells—back to the donor.

Donor Process

This procedure enables us to collect a higher-concentration of platelets (2-4 times more concentrated) compared to platelets collected during a whole blood donation. Actual donation time is about 2 hours. Throughout the donation process, a Vitalant donor specialist is there to assist you. You can use the internet, watch TV, or simply relax knowing that you are doing something incredible to help a seriously ill patient.

What are the eligibility requirements for platelet donation?

The ideal blood types for platelet donation are O+, A+, B+, AB+. Depending on the concentration of platelets in your blood, you even may be able to give a double or triple platelet donation during a single session. Your double or triple donation is safer for a seriously ill patient who needs multiple units. Eligibility requirements include but are not limited to: No testosterone within the last 24 hours; No aspirin within the last 48 hours; and other eligibility requirements.

What are the benefits of platelet donation?

You'll enjoy knowing you are helping a seriously ill patient feel stronger immediately after they receive your donation. A smaller needle is used and you may find you feel less fatigue after apheresis since the the rest of your blood is returned to you along with saline that aids hydration and lessens fatigue.

How often can you donate platelets?

Platelet donors can give every 7 days up to 24 times annually.

Where can you donate platelets?

Platelet donations are accepted at most Vitalant donor centers. If a “platelet” appointment is not an available option when scheduling online, platelet donation may not be available at that location. You may call us at 877-25-VITAL and our Customer Care team will assist you.

How do you prepare for platelet donation?

Please increase your intake of fluids, calcium, and iron starting two days before your appointment. You also must stop taking aspirin two days prior to donating platelets as aspirin reduces the potency of platelets.

Give Platelets, Help Cancer Patients

What are platelets?

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Who is helped

Perishable