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Types of Donations

Whole blood donation is an important way for donors to support the local community and help assure a stable blood supply.  When whole blood is donated, it is separated into its three main components: red blood cells, platelets and plasma, allowing for multiple lives to be saved with one single donation.  These components can also be collected individually in a process called apheresis.  At Delta Blood Bank, we collect several types of donations.  Below is a brief description of each donation type.

Whole Blood Donations

This is the most common type of donation and donors can do this once every 56 days as long as they meet the minimum requirements of 1) being in general good health, 2) weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and 3) are at least 17 years of age.  Those who are 16 years old and wish to donate must have parental consent.

Apheresis donations

Apheresis is a blood collection process that utilizes automated technology which allows a donor to give specific blood components while the rest is safely returned to the donor.  With this process, blood donation is made significantly more efficient.  For example, the number of platelets collected in one apheresis collection may equal the number collected from at least 6 individual whole blood donations.  Patients benefit from this because they receive blood components from fewer donors, making their transfusions safer.  Because apheresis donations from male donors are typically safer, Delta Blood Bank collects platelets and plasma almost exclusively from male donors. 

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