Years ago when I first started donating blood regularly, the donation center encouraged me to donate platelets, and that’s been my only method of donation since. The facts: a single apheresis donation provides as many platelets as 5-6 whole-blood donations (and I typically do a double dontation), platelets last only 5 days versus ~40 days for whole blood so a steady supply is needed, they are critically needed for patients with low platelet counts (a common effect of cancer treatment), and because donation takes longer and you’re mostly immobile, it’s harder to get people to donate. And selfishly - you think you’re treated like royalty for a regular donation? Try platelets. It’s like sitting on your throne while your personal servants fan you and feed you grapes, except it’s blankets and a juice box.
Now I’m wondering how much more they really like platelet donors. I’m not looking for an answer to what I personally should donate, because that depends on a lot of factors: regional need, current shortages, blood type, etc. I’m just curious about usage of the various components: things like how many units of whole blood versus platelets versus red blood cells are used each year, and how does that compare to what is donated? How many units of whole blood are processed to extract platelets or red blood cells? How many units of platelets or whole blood typically expire?
I’ve seen the stat that 2 million units of platelets are transfused in the U.S. each year, and someone in the U.S. needs platelets every 15 seconds. I’m looking for additional facts that help put that into context.
I’m O+, which means I’m useful for any donation type except plasma. But I’m asking more because I’m curious about how often the different blood components are used, not to help me personally decide.
Back in the 90s I went in to donate blood and was asked if I’d be willing to donate platelets instead. In addition to being O+ it turns out that there’s something about my blood that allows it to be used for newborns so they were eager to take as much as I was willing to give. I donated regularly for a number of years, including one time when I was set up for directed donations for someone who was getting cancer treatments. Unfortunately, I can no longer donate due to a liver condition.
I don’t know about platelets, but I think that the only benefit to a power red donation is that you can donate the same number of red cells in half as many visits. The hard part of getting people to donate is over once they walk through the door of the donation center, but they have no guarantee of when you’re next going to walk through the door. So they want to get as much out of that one visit as possible. But if you know that you’re going to be able to keep that 8-week schedule, then whole blood is just as good for the red cells, and better for the plasma and platelets.
You are CMV Negative:
““CMV negative” means you have never been infected with cytomegalovirus. For most people with healthy immune systems, infection with CMV or not is usually of little consequence, but people with damaged or immature (like newborns) immune systems are susceptible to life-threatening CMV infection.” (from a Google search)
I am, or was, the same way and donated platelets on a regular basis for about 11 years.
You can donate platelets every seven days, up to 24 times a year. You can do this in and around your whole blood donations, which are every 56 days.
Platelet donations are a longer process, about two hours, and cannot be done on a bloodmobile because of the length of time to donate and the size of the equipment.
I would say check with your donor branch to see what is needed. Because of the length of time it takes to donate they can only take a certain number of platelet donors a day and the platelets only last five days, so there’s pretty much a constant need.
Is platelet donation the one where they put stuff back into you? I have no problem donating whole blood, and do so, but I am squicked out over the thought of having a machine take something out and giving me back the remnants.
Platelet and power red donation both work by “putting stuff back into you”. As for whether that’s worthy of squicking, that’s a matter of opinion, and hence not worthy of GQ.
Yes. I’ve only been hooked to the machines that take it from one arm and return it in the other, although I understand some machines remove and return blood in the same arm.
Needles overall squick me out, so the idea of a return trip isn’t really any worse for me. Both arms are covered by blankets so you don’t see what’s happening. And beyond the benefit of being treated like royalty, it doesn’t leave you light-headed and tired out like a whole blood donation.
We have probably crossed paths at the donation center in PDX. I’m B+, so they were happy to have my type for platelet donations instead of whole blood.
I used to get the one arm treatment. I preferred it because I can scratch my nose during the donation. I don’t feel right asking them to do it during a two arm donation.
Everything I’ve read indicates all whole blood donations are separated into components. And your donation probably isn’t traveling very far. So your question as to “how much more they like platelet donors” is inseparable from the factors you dismiss. It’s like trying to decide whether to cook pork or beef for a group of refugees, and saying you don’t want to talk about cultural differences and how they affect what people eat; you just want to know which meat gets thrown out more often.
I did find this interview with a blood donation coordinator in India:
By contrast, this article talks about platelets being “needed more” than other blood components. However, that was in the context of a brief but catastrophic interruption in donations due to the polar vortex last year, which disproportionately affected the platelets supply due to their shorter shelf life:
But that short shelf life means also means platelets can go to waste. Estimates of wastage vary widely bit there does seem to be consensus that platelets are most likely to go bad before being used:
The important thing, if you want your blood to go to use, is not to jump on the bandwagon and try to donate after a disaster: Blood donations dwindle in US after post-Sept. 11 wastage publicized - PMC Benefits of Donating Blood: Side Effects, Advantages, and More
But also, those personal factors are valid. You feel fatigued after donating whole blood, but not platelets? That’s a great reason for you to donate platelets, then. I feel great after donating whole blood, and my O+ type and hectic schedule means that makes sense for me. Someone else feels squicked about having some blood parts put back? Also a totally valid reason to donate whole blood. The most important thing is getting more people to donate, and getting them to donate more frequently. People are more likely to do that if encouraged to do so in a way that works for them.
Thanks, Esprise Me, all very interesting info. I’m surprised whole blood is always separated. Maybe the Hollywood scene of the blood bag hanging above the trauma victim is too ingrained in my head.
My mom says that she actually feels more fatigued after donating platelets than after donating whole blood. I’ve no idea what the mechanism could be for that, or if it’s just psychosomatic, but even if it is psychosomatic, it’s still what she feels.
Unfortunately, I failed the last three times. Twice the return wouldn’t work (single needle), the last time I switched arms for luck and then they couldn’t get any out after the initial draw to check my count went fine.
I may go back to whole blood after one more platelet try.
I’ve got a Friday appointment. When they asked what type I wanted to donate I gave them “dealer’s choice” and they selected Power Red, a double red cell donation. Whether it’s because they really need the red cells or because they’re spacing out the donors because of the COVID-19; I don’t know. I didn’t want to question them on the telephone, I’m hoping they were busy.
Try Tums during and after, an apheresis machine eliminates a bunch of calcium from your blood to keep it from clotting while going through the machine. The Calcium Carbonate gives quick relief. Not a big deal during the short time of double red, but platelet is much longer, and eliminates more Ca2+.
In my case, they like platelet donors three times more. My local blood bank gives points for each donation, which you can redeem for gift cards or other items. Regular donations earn 100 points. Platelet donations earn 300.
