Platelets, small, colorless cells in our blood, are crucial for controlling bleeding and healing wounds. They are particularly vital for heart surgery patients, burn victims, transplant recipients, accident victims, premature babies, and especially cancer patients, who often need daily platelet transfusions due to treatment side effects like anemia and platelet loss.
With a shelf life of only 7 days, platelets are always in high demand for life-saving treatments. Donors can give platelets every 8 days, up to 24 times a year, playing a vital role in ongoing medical care.
Regular blood donations from healthy individuals ensure a reliable blood supply for emergencies. Giving blood is a precious gift, directly saving lives. Your donation is a powerful contribution to the well-being of others.
What Are Platelets?
Platelets, which are not cells but fragments of giant cells called megakaryocytes. They are tiny, colorless, disc-shaped particles circulating in blood that help control bleeding and bruising.
Where Do Platelets Come From?
Platelets grow in bone marrow. They activate a substance in plasma, which forms clots and helps wounds to heal.
Why Are Platelets Important?
Since platelets help control bleeding, they are very important for heart surgery patients, burn victims, organ transplant patients, bone marrow transplant patients, accident victims, premature babies, and especially cancer patients.
Who Can Donate Platelets?
All blood types are eligible to donate platelets. Donors who have been pregnant, had a blood transfusion, or had a transplant must be tested for antibodies against the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) prior to donating platelets.
How Often Can You Donate Platelets?
You can donate platelets every 8 days or up to 24 times per year.
Why We Need Platelet Donors?
Platelets have the shortest shelf life of all blood components, lasting only 7 days after donation. That means they are in constant demand for life-saving treatments.
How long does it take?
The process takes about 1-2 hours.
Becoming a Platelet Donor:
We need your help. More importantly, many others need your life-saving Platelets. If you’ve received blood products you are still eligible to donate platelets as long as you test negative for antibodies against the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA). HLA antibodies pose absolutely no risk to you, however, HLA antibodies in donated platelets or plasma blood products may be dangerous to transfusion recipients. Donors are asked to wait or avoid taking aspirin 48 hours prior to donating platelets as this could prevent the platelets from functioning properly when transfused.
Schedule your appointment by calling 1-800-223-6667 and be sure to mention you are scheduling your appointment as a platelet donor or click the link below to get started.
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