Serving blood donors,
hospitals, and patients in
Utah, Idaho, Montana,
Southeast Oregon,
and Southwest Wyoming
Platelet Donation
Platelets are vital to life, because they help prevent massive blood loss by helping your blood to clot. Because they are sticky cells they need to be in constant motion after they are donated or they could stick together and lose their functionality.
Platelets are donated through a special automated process called automation. Apheresis allows donors to safely donate certain components of their blood in larger amounts. During an apheresis donation, blood is drawn into a machine which separates the needed component from the rest of the blood. The final component is collected in a donation bag, while the rest of the blood is returned to the donor.
Shelf life:
5 days
Common uses:
cancer patients, organ transplant patients
Best blood types
to donate:
A+, A-, B+, AB+, AB-
Estimated
donation time:
1 ½ – 2 ½ hours
How often you
can donate
up to 24 times per year. We recommend you donate once every two to four weeks.
Eligibility:
To be eligible you must:
weigh at least 110 lbs.
be in good health
be at least 17 years old*
* In Utah, Idaho, and Montana 17-year olds can donate with a signed American Red Cross parental consent form.
You can e-mail specific eligibility questions to
CanIDonate@usa.redcross.org If you have questions before or after your donation, please call 1-800-737-0902.
*Platelet, Plasma and Double Red Cell donations are not available at all Red Cross Operations.
