About Donating Blood
The need for blood donations go beyond what people see on television and the news. Blood is needed for individuals being treated for cancer, babies that are born prematurely, individuals with anemia and much more. Blood donations save lives and there is no substitute. It must come from one individual to go to another, and every donation can help save up to three lives. That is why we encourage individuals to Commit for Life and donate at least once every quarter.
The following are examples of ways you can Commit for Life and help save lives in your community:
- Whole Blood Donation
- Double Red Cell Donation
- Therapeutic Donation
- Hemochromatosis Donation
- Autologous and Directed Donation
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Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center is pleased to announce the ABC's of Commitment - a recognition program for automated, or apheresis, donors. Details >> |
What is a whole blood donation?
For a whole blood donation, about one pint of blood is collected and separated into its three components: plasma, platelets and red blood cells. The value of a whole blood donation is that you help save three lives! The red blood cells are often necessary to treat surgery patients, babies born prematurely and trauma victims.
What is a double red cell donation?
You can give two units of red blood cells with no side effects other than feeling twice as good about saving lives. Red blood cells are the most used blood component for surgery, trauma and treatment of blood disorders. When an individual donates whole blood, The Blood Center separates a single unit of red blood cells using manual procedures in the laboratory. Now, new technologies allow for the collection of two units of red cells from a single donation through a process known as double red cell apheresis. The special advantage of the procedure is that you are able to give two units of red blood cells without any ill effects.
What is a apheresis and how is it different than a whole blood donation?
Apheresis is an automated donation process that allows you to selectively donate only the blood components that are needed most, with the remaining blood being returned to you. The entire procedure uses sterile, single-use needles and plastic bags, just as in a whole blood donation. The donation procedure takes between 35 to 45 minutes. Your entire visit to The Blood Center will require a little more than one hour. The next time you donate, please ask one of our friendly staff members if an apheresis donation is right for you.
Who should donate double red cells by apheresis?
Donors with blood types O and B typically are the best for this donation procedure. These are the types most in demand from hospitals served by The Blood Center and the types most difficult to provide in adequate quantities.
Are there any special requirements for donating double red cells?
Yes. The weight and height requirements are different for both men and women.
- Males: Minimum 130 pounds and 5'1" in height
- Females: Minimum 150 pounds and 5'5" in height
- Iron level: For both men and women - 40 percent or 13.3 hemoglobin
- Donation interval: 112 days or 16 weeks (versus 56 days or eight weeks for a whole blood donation)
Other reasons to donate double red blood cells through apheresis:
- You will maximize your ability to help others without extra visits to donate.
- You will help The Blood Center better match your donation to the needs of patients.
- You will help stabilize the regional blood inventory, especially in times when blood donations are needed most.
IMPORTANT:
If you cannot take advantage of the double red cell apheresis procedure, we encourage you to give whole blood every eight weeks. To locate the nearest double red cell donation site, call our Customer Service lines at (713) 791-6219 or (713) 791-6373 no more than three days before you plan to donate.
About therapeutic blood donations:
If you have polycythemia or porphyria cutanea tarda and are required to have blood drawn as a form of treatment, you may come to any Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center facility for the procedure. Be sure to download the therapeutic request form and bring it with your doctor's signature when you donate. There is a fee of $55 for each phlebotomy.
Download the therapeutic Phlebotomy request
About hemochromatosis blood donations:
Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center has been granted a variance from the Food and Drug Administration that will allow The Blood Center to draw blood to be used for transfusion purposes from individuals diagnosed with hereditary hemochromatosis. Previously, blood collected from hereditary hemochromatosis patients was drawn only as therapeutic donations and was destroyed.
Beginning March 2, 2004, blood collected from donors with hereditary hemochromatosis who meet all suitability requirements for allogeneic blood donations will be labeled as suitable for transfusion. The minimum hematocrit allowed for transfusion purposes will be 38 percent. Blood donations from donors that do not meet the current suitability requirements or require a hematocrit of less than 38 percent will be labeled as therapeutic donations and discarded. Hereditary hemochromatosis donors will be allowed to donate blood more often than every eight weeks and their blood will be used for transfusion if otherwise suitable.
There will be no fee for phlebotomies performed on individuals with hereditary hemochromatosis whether or not they meet requirements to be allogeneic donors. We will continue to require a therapeutic phlebotomy request form to be completed by your doctor and will be kept on file with The Blood Center. Please ask your doctor to complete the form and fax to The Blood Center at (713) 791-6603.