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Every blood donation you make has an amazing impact on the world–it can save lives.
But did you know there are different types of blood donation? The typical donation is one pint of whole blood, but special equipment allows us to collect parts of your blood separately. These parts are called blood components.
This process is called apheresis. While apheresis donations take a little more of your time (from an extra 30 minutes to two hours depending on donation type), these special donations help hospitals to better meet the needs of patients.
TYPES OF BLOOD DONATION
Whole Blood Donation
During a whole blood donation, about one pint of your blood is collected, and after we test it, the donation is separated into three parts–the red blood cells, platelets and plasma–which can then help up to three patients.
Learn more about the donation process
Patients helped: Most often trauma and surgery patients
Recommended Blood Types: All types
Total time: 1 hour Donation time: 15 minutes
How often you can donate: Every 56 days
Power Red or Double Red Cell Donation
A Power Red donation uses an automated process that removes twice the amount of red cells as a whole blood donation, then returns your platelets and plasma to you.
Learn more about Power Red Donation
Patients helped: Pediatric patients, trauma or surgery patients, people with anemia
Recommended Blood Types: O-, O+, A-, B-
Total time: 1.5 to 2 hours Donation time: 30 to 45 minutes
How often you can donate: Every 112 days up to 3 times a year
Platelet Donation
Platelets help clot your blood and stop bleeding. During a platelet donation, an automated process removes your platelets and returns your red blood cells and plasma to you. Platelets must be used within five days, meaning platelet donors are needed frequently to ensure patients have enough for their treatments.
Learn more about Platelet Donation
Patients helped: Cancer patients, people with blood disorders, open-heart surgeries and organ transplants
Recommended Blood Types: O+, A+, B+, AB+
Total time: 2.5 to 3 hours Donation time: 2 hours
How often you can donate: Every 7 days up to 24 times a year
Plasma Donation
Plasma is the liquid portion of blood. A plasma donation also uses an automated process to remove the plasma from your blood and return the red cells and platelets to your body.
Learn more about Plasma Donation
Patients helped: Patients in shock, those with severe burns or clotting disorders
Recommended Blood Types: AB+, AB-
How often you can donate: Every 28 days up to 13 times a year
Our staff may ask if you’d like to make a different type of blood donation at your appointment, based on your blood type.
You can also choose what type of donation you would like to make when scheduling an appointment.
SCHEDULE NOW
Not all donation types are available at all locations. Final eligibility for any blood donation is determined on the day of donation.
Then, use any donate button to schedule an appointment.