With your gift of blood, you are helping patients right here in Wisconsin to heal.
Donors can choose to donate whole blood or just specific blood components. All donations are greatly needed and appreciated by patients.
Whole Blood
The main components that make up blood are red cells, platelets, plasma and white cells. When most people give blood, they give “whole blood” – that means they give a donation that contains all these things. Following a donation of whole blood, it is taken back to BloodCenter of Wisconsin where it is tested and then separated into plasma, red blood cells and platelets (white cells are rarely transfused) and provided to the hospitals. More whole blood donors are always needed. Less than 5% of those who are eligible to donate blood do so. Whole blood donors are eligible to give blood every 56 days.
Apheresis Donation
Making an apheresis donation means that you provide a particular type of blood component(s) - red cells, plasma and/or platelets - and receive back the rest. Patients commonly receive a concentrated dose of the component they most need, rather than receiving whole blood.
Donating a component is very much like donating blood. The primary difference is that during a component donation, blood flows from a tube in your arm to a sterile chamber within an automation machine, rather than immediately into a collection bag. The chamber “spins” your blood, separating the blood into various components. The component being collected then flows into a special bag. The remainder of your blood is returned to you via a narrow, sterile tube that is used only once. Component procedures take a little longer, but they are safe for you and highly efficient for patients.
Platelets:
One platelet donation yields as many platelets as 6 whole blood donations. Platelets help in clotting and are needed by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and those receiving an organ, among others. A platelet donation takes 1 ½ - 2 hours in total, and a single donor can donate platelets every 14 days.
Plasma:
One plasma donation yields as much plasma as 3 whole blood donations. Plasma provides antibodies and proteins, and impacts our blood pressure. Burn victims in particular need plasma. A plasma donation takes about 1 ½ hours, and a single donor can donate plasma every 28 days.
Red Blood Cells:
One red cell donation yields as many red blood cells as 2 whole blood donations. Red blood cells carry oxygen. Patients needing red blood cells include premature babies, those with sickle cell anemia and accident or trauma victims. A red blood cell donation takes about 1 ½ - 2 hours, and a single donor can donate red blood cells every 112 days (16 weeks).
All blood types are needed for components. Component donations are safe for donors and make blood transfusions even more efficient and safe for patients.
- Platelets: Donors with A+, A-, B+, B- blood types are particularly encouraged.
- Plasma: Donors with AB+ and AB- blood types are particularly encouraged.
- Red Cells: Donors with O+ and O- blood types are particularly encouraged.
Autologous Blood Donation
In rare instances, such as when someone has a unique set of markers or “antigens” in their blood and is about to undergo a more complex surgical procedure, a physician may recommend that an individual have his or her own blood drawn and reserved for the upcoming surgical procedure.
These decisions are made between individuals and their physicians. In these instances, BloodCenter of Wisconsin can draw and transfer blood to the hospital performing the surgery. If you think you may fall into this category, you are encouraged to discuss autologous blood donation with your physician. Blood draws for such purposes must be recommended and approved by your physician. There is a charge for such draws that is generally paid for by insurance.
Donating Bone Marrow
BloodCenter of Wisconsin works with the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) to help register potential marrow donors. Patients who have diseases affecting their bone marrow, such as certain types of leukemia or aplastic anemia, can require bone marrow transplants to survive. A marrow transplant involves taking healthy marrow from a donor and transplanting it into a patient who needs it.
Find out more about joining the marrow donor registry.
