Donating | Apheresis Donation

Donating Blood Components
With a method called Apheresis (ay-fur-EE-sis), you can donate individual blood components such as platelets. A special machine separates out the needed component and returns the rest of the blood to you. The information below applies to Platelet-Apheresis. Call your community blood center location nearest you at 1-877-24-BLOOD.

Apheresis Donor Requirements

Healthy
At least 18 years old
No aspirin or aspirin-containing drugs in the past 48 hours
Appointment required

Apheresis Donation

A small percentage of your total platelets are collected at one-time; your body will replace the platelets you donated in about 72 hours.
Supplies are sterile and used just one time, then properly disposed.
Takes about twice as long as regular whole-blood donation.
Watch TV or videos, listen to music, read or relax during procedure.

Watch a Movie While Donating
Download a list of movies available for our Tacoma and Puyallup donation centers.

Tacoma Movie List (PDF: 24KB)
Puyallup Movie List (PDF: 6KB)

Appointment or Eligibility Questions
Call toll free 1-877-24 BLOOD for the Apheresis Coordinator.

How it Works

Blood travels from your arm through sterile tubing into centrifuge
Centrifuge spins blood to separate components, which vary in weight and density
Platelets are drawn up through a port into a collection bag
The remaining blood components (red cells and plasma) return to you.

Why Apheresis Donation is Important
Patients may need different blood components. Someone who is hemorrhaging may need platelets to help control bleeding and temporarily repair blood vessel damage. People being treated for cancer often need platelets because they cannot produce enough of these blood cells. Burn victims may need plasma to help replace blood volume and restore delivery of blood cells, nutrients, enzymes and hormones throughout the body.

The Apheresis Advantage
Six times more platelets can be collected at one time through Apheresis than through whole-blood donation. The average whole-blood donation provides just 2 tablespoons of platelets, so platelets from multiple whole-blood donations must be “pooled” to get enough for one platelet transfusion. In contrast, one Apheresis donation yields enough platelets to make an entire platelet transfusion. Because platelets last only 5 days, continual and abundant donations are needed to keep up with demand.