double red cell donation

When you make a double red cell donation, you give two units of red blood cells in one appointment. Your fluids, plasma, and platelets are returned to your body. In two donations, you give the same number of life-saving red cells as you would during four whole blood donations.

Donating blood takes about an hour from the time you arrive until you are ready to leave. First, you must complete a registration form with basic information such as your name, address, and birthdate. You must also present identification that shows your name and your photo or signature.

Then, one of our medical professionals will check your blood pressure, temperature, and hemoglobin level (iron); take a look at your arm to make sure it is clear of any signs of infection or intravenous drug use; and ask you confidential questions about your health to ensure that you are eligible to donate blood that day.

The actual donation takes between ten and 20 minutes. Afterward, you will be given juice and/or water to replenish the fluid donated and refresh you before you leave the Blood Donor Room. There are also cookies available for a snack.

Your body will replace the blood volume (plasma) within 48 hours. It will take four to eight weeks for your body to completely replace the red blood cells you donated. The average adult has eight to 12 pints of blood. You will not notice any physical changes related to the pint you donated.

All blood is tested for blood type, hepatitis, HIV (the AIDS virus), HTLV, and syphilis. Then it is separated into components — red blood cells and plasma — to help patients recover from cancer treatment and regain their strength.

When donating double red blood cells we only collect your red blood cells and not your platelets or plasma. This type of donation is done using a process called automation (sometimes referred to as apheresis).

Automated technology allows donors to give twice the amount of their red cells than compared to a whole blood donation. Automation enables us to collect only the most needed component(s) of the donor’s blood. Red blood cells are the most transfused blood product. People with O type blood and those with certain Rh negative blood types are encouraged to donate double red blood cells because it is their red cells that are in the highest demand by the hospitals.

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It turns out that donating blood doesn’t just benefit recipients. There are health benefits for donors, too, on top of the benefits that come from helping others. Read on to learn the health benefits of donating blood and the reasons behind them.

Power Red is similar to a whole blood donation, except a special machine is used to allow you to safely donate two units of red blood cells during one donation while returning your plasma and platelets to you.

Why should you do it? You may already know about the ongoing need for blood and the importance of your blood donations. Whole blood donations contain red blood cells, platelets, plasma and white blood cells. Red blood cells are the most frequently used blood component and are needed by almost every type of patient requiring transfusion. If you meet certain criteria, Power Red allows you to safely donate two units of red cells during one appointment as an automated donation process. It is as safe as whole blood donation.

Platelet, double red cell and plasma donations are each a type of apheresis — a method of collecting blood in which you're hooked up to a machine that collects and separates blood components (red cells, platelets and plasma) and returns unused components to you. Your blood stays confined within a single-use sterile tubing kit, so you're not at risk of getting a bloodborne infection during a blood donation.

To donate blood plasma, you must meet all of the requirements for whole blood donation. There are four major blood groups: A, B, AB and O. Donors who are blood group AB are special plasma donors because their plasma can be given to any of the other blood types. Because of this, AB plasma is frequently in high demand.

During double red cell donation, two units of red cells are collected. Red cells carry oxygen to all parts of the body. Red cells are typically given to people with sickle cell anemia or significant blood loss due to trauma or surgery. A red cell donation is typically transfused within days, so the need for this component is ongoing.

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Red Cell Apheresis (double red) donations use an automated procedure that enables the donor to give the equivalent of two units of red cells. The collection equipment uses a centrifuge to spin and separate the desired red-cell components from whole blood. This provides more units of needed blood types to help meet patient needs. Rh negative and Type donors are ideal for double red procedures. For donors that would like to give more often and enjoy the apheresis donation experience, we also have procedures that allow us to collect a single red cells along with platelets and plasma products. Our staff can help you decide that right procedure for your type!

Double red cell donation is similar to a whole blood donation, except a special machine is used to allow you to safely donate two units of red blood cells during one donation while returning your plasma, platelets and white cells to you.

For donors that would like to give more often and enjoy the apheresis donation experience, we also have procedures that allow us to collect a single red cells along with platelets and plasma products. This may be important if we have a patient need for other types of products from specific blood types. The Donor Center or Mobile Blood Drive staff can assist donors in determining the right type of procedure at the right time and location.

Prioritize time!

Between meetings and projects, she manages time wisely. With Super Reds, it only takes 3 donations to hit the max number of times to give in a year. That means max support for local patients with less visits to donate.

A Super Reds donor must be blood type O, type A negative or type B negative and meet minimum blood volume requirements determined by weight, height*, and hemoglobin (iron-containing oxygen transport metalloprotein in the red blood cells). A Blood Collections Specialist will review this in the screening process to see if you meet these requirements. If not, no worries, you will still be able to donate whole blood and help local patients in need.

A Super Reds donation is at its most critical need when we see our blood supply take a dip. We want donors to be type O, type A negative or type B negative for Super Reds because we tend to utilize those types more frequently than others. This donation type helps us meet the local demand for red blood cells more efficiently and quickly.

Your blood donation can have an amazing impact on the world by saving lives. In the time it takes to blink, another hospital patient in the U.S. will need a transfusion. And did you know there are different types of blood donations you can make that may help certain patients?

The typical donation is one pint of whole blood, but special equipment allows us to collect parts of your blood separately (a process called apheresis). The information below shows how these individual blood components often help specific patients.

Whole blood can help many types of patients, especially those undergoing surgery and trauma patients. During this type of donation, we collect about one pint of your blood, test it, and then separate your donation into components like red blood cells and plasma.

Power Red donations pack double the impact because the automated procedure collects a concentrated donation of red cells that can help twice as many patients. Power Reds are especially helpful to trauma victims, newborn babies and sickle cell patients.

Platelet donations are vital to many cancer patients. Chemotherapy can destroy platelets, a key blood component for clotting blood to stopping bleeding. This type of donation is collected with a machine that removes your platelets and returns your red blood cells and plasma to you.

Vitalant staff may ask if you’d like to make a different type of blood donation when you schedule or arrive at your appointment. They may base their request on your blood type, other criteria such as weight, and current patient needs.

Did you know that there are different ways that you can donate blood? The most common method for donating is whole blood donation. While whole blood donation is needed, there is another form of blood donation that can help even more people from just a single donation. Double red cell donation is a donation method that is in high demand and can save many lives in the process.

With traditional whole blood donation, all parts of the blood such as plasma and red blood cells are taken during the donation. Double red cell donation is different in the fact that only the red blood cells are collected during the donation process. During the donation process, the whole blood goes through a machine that separates the red blood cells from the other blood components including (platelets, plasma, and white blood cells). These blood components are then returned to the donor by mixing them with a saline solution. Because parts of the blood are returned to the donor during the process, most donors experience minimal side effects from a double red cell donation than after a whole blood donation. Compared to whole blood donations, double red cell donations can help up to twice as many people in need of blood transfusions. Red blood cells are also the most needed component of the blood for hospitals and clinics. Donors can donate blood every 112 days with double red blood cell donations.

Many hospitals and clinics are struggling to receive the number of blood donations that are needed to operate. If you are able to give blood, we highly encourage you to sign up today to donate blood at a local blood donation center. To donate blood with South Bend Medical Center visit our donor portal to schedule an appointment today.