Donation Process
Donating blood platelets is safe, simple, and saves lives.
The donation process, from registration to post donation refreshments, takes approximately 3 hours.
Here is a step-by-step description of what happens when you donate:
Step 1. Registration
When you arrive at the collection site, a representative will greet you and provide you with important information for you to read. You will then be asked to fill out the Donor Registration Sheet.
Step 2. Medical History and "Mini-physical"
You will be asked confidential questions about your medical history and travels to be sure that the donation procedure is safe for you and that your blood platelets are safe to transfuse to others. We will also perform a brief physical examination to check your blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and take a small blood sample to make sure you are not anemic.
Step 3. Donation
A nurse or phlebotomist will cleanse and sterilize an area on your arm and then quickly (and relatively painlessly) insert a needle in your arm for the blood drawing procedure (all materials used during your donation are pre-packaged, sterile, and disposable; they are used only once and then discarded).
Blood is drawn from your arm and sent
through sterile tubing into
a centrifuge located in a cell-separator machine. The machine spins the blood to separate the platelets from the other components. The platelets are collected and the remaining components are returned to you. Only a small portion of your blood is in the machine at anytime (less than a cup). You can relax on our comfortable donor lounge chairs designed specifically for apheresis donations, which are equipped for you to surf the internet, watch movies, or simply just catch up on some reading during your donation.
Step 4. Rest and Refreshments
Once the donation process is completed, we ask you to sit back and relax for 15 minutes and enjoy an assortment of refreshments. To find out your blood type, please complete the form and a customer service representative will contact you.
What should I bring at the time of donation?
- A valid photo ID (driver's license, passport, etc.)
- A list of medications you are taking (our medical interviewer needs to know what medications you are taking or have recently taken)
- A list of places you have visited outside of the U.S. in the past 3 years
- A friend to donate with you! (A great way to enhance this life saving experience is to enjoy it with a friend)
