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Whole Blood Donation
Human blood contains red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Donating one pint of blood, containing all of these blood components, is called “whole blood donation.” Up to three lives can be saved with one pint of whole blood.
 The red cells separated from whole blood have a shelf life of only 42 days, so it is imperative that we receive a continuous supply from generous, life-saving donors. Donating one pint of whole blood typically takes 45 to 60 minutes. We provide wireless Internet access, television programs, and movies for donors to watch during the process.
You can donate whole blood every eight weeks.
Automated Donation (Apheresis)
An automated donation lets you donate red blood cells, platelets, and plasma separately or combined. Sometimes this process is referred to as “apheresis.”
In this form of blood donation, the blood is collected using an automated system that separates the blood into its components (red blood cells, platelets, and plasma). Depending upon the type of donation, one component is kept while the rest are returned to the donor.
This process involves only a single sterile needle and takes approximately one-and-a-half to two hours. We provide wireless Internet access, television programs, and movies for donors to watch during the process.
The advantages of automated blood donations are:
- Only the blood component needed is removed while the rest is returned to the donor.
- Donors can give blood more frequently, depending upon the blood component collected.
- The donor can help more people in need by donating more often and giving more during each donation.
Platelet Donation (Plateletpheresis)
This process involves collecting blood, separating out the platelets, and returning the other blood components back to the donor. Platelets help blood to clot and often are given to people with leukemia, people receiving chemotherapy, and infants or children with severe infections.
Plateletpheresis takes approximately one-and-a-half to two hours. We provide wireless Internet access, television programs, and movies for donors to watch during the process.
Donors can give platelets as often as every two weeks or up to 24 times in one year. If you’re planning to donate platelets, you cannot take any aspirin or medicine containing aspirin in the 48 hours before you donate.
To learn more about whole blood or automated donations, contact us at 912-350-5643 or e-mail giveblood@memorialhealth.com.
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