What Is A Double Red Blood Donation? 5 Easy To Follow Steps!

What is a double red blood donation? It’s a kind of donation where two red blood cells are given in just a single appointment. The plasma, platelets, and fluids are then returned to the body. The two donations require giving the same number of red cells. That’s what is to be also done for the four blood donations.

The donation requires the use of automation or apheresis. It enables donors to donate twice their red cells than the whole blood donation. The needed blood components of the donor are collected through automation. Indeed, the most transfused blood is the red blood cells. Those with Rh-negative blood type and O blood type can donate; their double red blood cells are so far in demand in most hospitals.

what is a double red blood donation

 

What Are The Use Of Red Blood Cells?

What is a double red blood donation? Once again, it is a type of donation wherein a single appointment and two red blood cells are used. But what are red blood cells really for? The transport of nutrients and oxygen to specific tissues is possible with the red blood cells. These cells also remove waste and carbon dioxide from the body.

Moreover, red blood cells also hold a valuable role in almost seventy percent of transfusions. Red blood cell transfusion is required by patients with the risk of losing their vast blood volumes. They are those patients with a perforated bleeding ulcer, severe trauma experiences, and are undergoing a surgical procedure.

 

How Long Does It Take To Donate?

Depending on the type of blood product donated, the entire donation process can take one hour and fifteen minutes. A complete blood draw takes roughly 10 minutes.  However, this one procedure called apheresis could take 1.5-2 hours, which is longer than usual. You will need to learn what is apheresis blood donation to understand further.

 

What Requirements To Comply When Donating DRBC?

There are some requirements that you will need to consider before donating for DRBC. Three essential requirements have to be met by the donors. These include hemoglobin, height, and weight. In addition, they determine if an individual can offer the said donation.

  • Women & Non-binary-5’5″ in height & 150 pounds in weight
  • Men− 5’1″ in height & 130 pounds in weight
  • Hemoglobin level− 13.3 g/Dl
  • Blood Types− A negative, B negative, O positive and negative

 

Where Can One Donate?

What are a double red blood donation and the place to go for it? The donation is accepted at most mobile blood drives indoors. How many times can a person donate? For donors aged sixteen to eighteen, they are eligible to donate DRBC. So you can do it once every twelve months. But for donors aged nineteen years old can be eligible for donation every four months.

 

What Are The Advantages Of Double Red Blood Donation?

The following are the clear advantages of double red blood donation: reduction in the exposures of donors in recipients, improvement, and cost-effectiveness of the process, improvement in the convenience of donors, significant safety than the whole blood donation in a single unit, restoration of RBC volume by 92% in just four weeks. Possible even with no iron supplementation and direct blood supply collected serves the patient’s needs in the community.

 

What Are The Steps To Follow When Donating?

You will need to follow some steps before you are anointed as a potential blood donor when you donate. Follow the steps below when deciding to go for double red blood donation. But before that, you might want to read this one about organizing your donation drive that might also help with the process. Regardless, here is the list:

 

#1. Registration

The returning donor will have their information stored in the computer system. That is by employing a social security number or name. A person will ask to verify the name, the phone number, and the address. And the same goes with first-time donors. The person in charge of the registration will then enter the information into the system. Valid I.D with a photo is required to be shown before the registrar.

 

#2. Interview & Mini-Physical

Questions will need to be answered regarding the medical history of the donor. That includes the questions from the FDA. The purpose is to determine if one is practicing risky activities. For example, some may have contracted hepatitis, HIV, & other diseases. Thus, they won’t be allowed to donate blood supply as it can harm the community. The mini-physical is then carried out to determine the temperature, blood pressure, iron, and pulse level.

Being healthy is ensured by the physical examination. This is in matters concerning the giving of blood. The results will be provided to you once done with your appointment.

 

#3. Preparation

At this point, you will be asked to sit and then relax in the chair. The phlebotomist will check the veins, the arm will undergo a swab, and a medical expert will prepare the bag and other materials.  There might be many things to do but don’t worry because the medical staff will help you. This is for the collection of blood donation.

 

#4. Donation & Recovery

The donation is only a comfortable process contrary to what other people believe. First, four vials of the blood will be taken by the phlebotomist. That is carried out as part of routine testing. Then, the needle will be removed from the arm afterward. And lastly, relax. Staff will offer snacks and juice to participating donors, and the medical staff will encourage you to relax for a few minutes. And finally, the donation is completed.

 

Why Should You Not Hesitate to Donate?

Donating your blood is indeed a selfless act. It’s attuned to helping save the lives of other people.

Remember that blood can never be manufactured. Local hospitals only depend upon blood donors. Blood is collected and is placed on the shelf for patients who need it the most. While thirty-seven percent of the population can donate, still less than ten percent donate blood annually. As a first-time donor or a regular donor, visit the donor centers today. The bloodmobiles are an essential way of making a difference.

 

Conclusion

Now, you have a complete understanding of what is a double red blood donation. And with more people in dire need of blood, it’s just becoming so in demand these days. So give a pint of blood to meet the needs of patients facing lifesaving procedures and traumas. It feels good to help save the lives of millions every year.

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