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Types Of Blood Donation

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Whole Blood Donation

What is whole blood donation? A whole blood (WB) donation is the most common form of blood donation, in which a person gives one pint of blood.

What is whole blood used for? After your donation, our lab separates the whole blood into its components. We do this because it allows usto deliver what patients need more specifically. The components we separate out are:

Plasma: Many proteins in plasma that help with blood clotting come from the liver. It can be used for patients who have certain bleeding problems or in an emergent trauma situation.

Red Blood Cells: Red blood cells transport oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and remove carbon dioxide and waste. Red blood cells are indicated for more than 70% of all transfusions. Patients who lose or at risk of losing significant volumes of blood require red blood cell transfusions. This population includes patients who have suffered severe trauma, have a perforated bleeding ulcer, or who are undergoing a major surgical procedure.

How long does donating take? The actual “draw” takes around 7 minutes, and the process overall takes about an hour. There are four basic steps in the whole blood donation process: registration, medical history, donation, and rest & refreshments.

What are the requirements for donating WB? To learn more about the requirements for donating whole blood, visit our eligibility page.

How often can I donate? Donors ages 16-18 are eligible for a whole blood donation once every six months (180 days) or a double red blood cell donation (DRBC) once every 12 months (365 days). Donors 19 years of age or older are eligible for a whole blood donation every 56 days or a DRBC donation every four months.

How do I make an appointment to donate? To make an appointment to donate whole blood, you can schedule online at website

Power RED Donation

What Is It?

Power red cell donation is similar to a whole blood donation, except a special machine is used to allow you to safely donate two units of red blood cells during one donation while returning your plasma and platelets to you.

Who is eligible?



Q: Is your blood type A negative, B negative, O positive or O negative?

Q: MALES: Are you at least 5’1″ tall and do you weigh at least 130lbs?

Q: FEMALES: Are you at least 5’5″ tall and do you weigh at least 150lbs?

Q: Can you spare an extra 30 minutes?

If you answered YES! to each of these questions, you may be eligible to be one of our automated donors.

How Is a Power Red Cell Donation Different?

During your power red cell donation, blood is drawn from one arm and drawn through a sterile, single-use needle set to a machine. The machine separates and collects two units of red cells and then safely returns the remaining blood components, along with some saline, back to you through the same arm. A video guide to the process can be found at the American Red Cross website.

The Benefits

Save time and make your donation go further: If you are extremely busy, committed to donating blood and an eligible A, AB, B, or O negative donor, power red cell donation may be ideal for you. Each procedure lets you give more of the product that is needed most by patients. Power red cell donation takes about 20-30 minutes longer than a whole blood donation and you can donate approximately every four months.

Feel better: With all of your platelets and plasma returned to you along with some saline, you don’t lose mjkhbgdsa1qasthe liquid portion of your blood and may feel more hydrated after your donation.

Platelet Donation

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 || B Positive || AB Negative || AB Positive || O 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 2 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.

At OneBlood, you can donate platelets in our donor centers and on select mobiles. Appointments are recommended for platelet donations.

Plasma Donation

During an AB Elite donation,
you give plasma, a part of your blood used to treat patients in emergency situations. AB plasma can be given to anyone regardless of their blood type. Plasma is collected through an automated process that separates plasma from other blood components, then safely and comfortably returns your red blood cells and platelets to you. AB Elite maximizes your donation and takes just a few minutes longer than donating blood.

Plasma is collected at select Red Cross donation centers. Learn more about plasma donation. Who it helps: AB Plasma is used in emergency and trauma situations to help stop bleeding.

Time it takes: About 1 hour and 15 minutes

Ideal blood types: AB positive, AB negative

Donation frequency: Every 28 days, up to 13 times/year

Blood Donation Process

Registration

  1. We’ll sign you in and go over basic eligibility.
  2. You’ll be asked to show ID, such as your driver’s license.
  3. You’ll read some information about donating blood.
  4. We’ll ask you for your complete address. Your address needs to be complete (including PO Box,street/apartment number) and the place where you will receive your mail 8 weeks from donation.

Health History

  1. You’ll answer a few questions about your health history and places you’ve traveled, during a
  2. private and confidential interview.
  3. You’ll tell us about any prescription and/or over the counter medications that may be in your system.
  4. We’ll check your temperature, pulse, blood pressure and hemoglobin level.

Your Donation

  1. If you’re donating whole blood, we’ll cleanse an area on your arm and insert a brand new sterile needle for the blood draw. (This feels like a quick pinch and is over in seconds.)
    2. Other types of donations, such as platelets, are made using an apheresis machine which will be connected to both arms.
  2. A whole blood donation takes about 8-10 minutes, during which you’ll be seated comfortably or lying down. When approximately a pint of whole blood has been collected, the donation is complete and a staff person will place a bandage on your arm.
  3. For platelets, the apheresis machine will collect a small amount of blood, remove the platelets, and return the rest of the blood through your other arm; this cycle will be repeated several times over about 2 hours.

Refreshment And Recovery

  1. After donating blood, you’ll have a snack and something to drink in the refreshment area.
  2. You’ll leave after 10-15 minutes and continue your normal routine.
  3. Enjoy the feeling of accomplishment knowing you are helping to save lives.
  4. Take a selfie, or simply share your good deed with friends. It may inspire them to become blood donors.

Where Would You Like To Donate ?

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