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The Blood Donor Center at Walter Reed
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What is Apheresis?
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Apheresis is a special kind of blood donation that allows whole blood to be withdrawn from a donor and separated into its component parts with all but the needed component being returned to the donor The needed blood component such as platelets, is then made immediately available to the patient
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Why is Blood Separated?
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Whole blood is made of several components including red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Each component has a special use. Apheresis procedures are used to collect platelets, plasma and white blood cells. Each unit of whole blood contains only two tablespoons (30 ml) of platelet concentrate. Six to ten regular whole-blood donations would be required to supply enough platelets for one patient. However, one apheresis donation from a single donor can provide sufficient platelets for one transfusion.
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Who needs Apheresis?
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Patients with cancer or leukemia, transplant patients with blood disorders, such as aplastic anemia, benefit from apheresis blood products. Many times during chemotherapy and radiation treatment both cancer cells and healthy cells are destroyed, so patients need transfusions to prevent bleeding or to fight infection.
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Who can be an Apheresis Donor?
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Requirements for apheresis donors are similar to those for whole blood donations.
Apheresis donors must:
- Meet specific age requirements
- Meet a minimum weight requirement
- Be willing to give 11-2 hours of time per donation
- Not have taken aspirin or products containing aspirin, ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatory medications for 72 hours
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Are Platelet donations safe?
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Yes. Each donation is closely supervised by trained staff who observe the donor throughout process. The donation does not significantly decrease the number of platelets in the donor's body and the donated platelets are quickly replaced. Donors experience no bleeding problems. It is impossible to get AIDS or any viral disease by donating platelets. The needles, tubing and collection bags in the machine are sterile and discarded after each donation
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How does Apheresis work?
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Blood is drawn from the donor's arm and sent trough 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 the donor in the other arm. The cell separator is a closed, sterile system utilizing disposable needles and plastic tubing that is used only once and the disposed of safely.
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How long does it take?
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Platelet donations takes about one to two hours. Donors are welcome to watch television or read during the process. You already spend about an hour donating whole blood. Why not take little extra time to donate platelets?
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It's worth it!
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If you are interested in becoming an apheresis donor , please call our Blood Donor Center. Our staff will be happy to answer your question or setup an initial screening interview.
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An apheresis donor is an extraordinary person. When apheresis donors are called to donate, they know someone is in critical need of blood component that only the apheresis donor is specially qualified to give. These special blood-component donations save lives. If you already donate blood you know how it feels to be a lifesaver. Donating platelets is another way to help.
- Produced as a public service by COBE BCT. Inc. and The Children's Hospital, Denver, Colorado
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Location:
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Building 2 (Heaton Pavilion)
4rd Floor, Room 44Z1.
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Phone Numbers:
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(202) 782-3372
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