What Is Apheresis Blood Donation? Awesome Facts To Know!

Are you tired, stuck in trying to understand what is apheresis blood donation? And still, you don’t get the answer about this. Well, we are here to help you out! Apheresis is the type of blood donation in which components of blood like; platelets, plasma, red blood, iron, or white blood cells are collected.

As all we know, blood donation is a life-saving process. Donations of blood and organs can save many people’s lives to restate that fact and to emphasize.

what is apheresis blood donation

Well, there is so much to know about this topic. Below, we have written all about apheresis donation. So, if you want to know all about apheresis blood donation, stay in touch with us at the end of this article.

 

The Process Of Apheresis Blood Donation

In apheresis donation, the donor’s whole blood is collected from the body and added into a particular machine known as a “cell separator. Blood is spinning into the machine to separate all the components of blood; that blood component which is required for donation is collected into expensive, good-quality plastic bags.

Only desired components are collected, the rest of the features of blood(red blood cells, white cells, and plasma) are returned into the donor body via needle insertion.

What is apheresis blood donation? The donation of apheresis platelets produces many platelets in the recipient body compared to platelets produced in six blood donations. Thus, Apheresis blood donation helps to maintain the immune system of the patient. The patients who have Cancer, have Bone marrow transplanted, and suffering from leukemia benefit from apheresis blood donation.

 

Platelets

What are platelets? Platelets, plasma, red cells, and white blood cells are the essential components of blood. Platelets are like cells, which help in controlling the bleeding. Who needs it? For the survival of human beings, all we need are platelets. Especially patients who have Cancer, others who have received an organ and do bone marrow transplantation, patients having severe injuries, and many patients who have undergone heart surgery all need platelet transfusion to enjoy a healthy and long life.

 

How Much Time It Takes For The Process Of Apheresis?

Time is taken in the process of apheresis blood donation mostly depends on donor weight and height. During the research, doctors and specialists observe that apheresis’s time is approximately a minimum of 70 minutes to a maximum of 2 hours. Do you know what to do before apheresis blood donation? If not yet, then read below; the process of apheresis includes;

  • Donor registration
  • Donor Health interview
  • Drinking juices
  • Eat healthy fruits

Donors can watch television, enjoy songs and movies while donating apheresis.

 

What Are The Benefits Of Apheresis Versus A Whole Blood Donation?

Now, let’s compare the difference between a whole blood donation and apheresis. Here are the following:

 

Whole blood donation

Whole blood (WB) donation is another type of blood donation, during which a whole blood donor gives only one point of their total blood.

 

Apheresis blood collection

Are you wondering about apheresis blood donation? So, here is the answer to your question. Let’s discuss it a bit more. Apheresis blood collection is a kind of blood donation. In this process, a donor gives more blood as compared to whole blood donation or regular donation. In apheresis donation, you can save thousands of lives than in recurring blood donation. The life span of recipients who have given apheresis blood donation is more than in whole blood donation.

 

Benefits Of Apheresis Blood Donation

Here are the benefits of apheresis blood donation:

  • Apheresis donors can help more patients as they donate more points of blood during every donation;
  • Apheresis collections are controlled, and it depends on donor and recipient blood groups. Apheresis is according to donor ability(amount of blood that donor desired to donate) and patient condition; and
  • Only the blood components needed are collected from donor blood while the rest of the elements, red blood cells, white blood cells, and plasma, are returned to the donor body via needle insertion.

You may want to read about donating plasma: what are the side effects.

 

Requirements Of Apheresis Donation

If you make up your mind to make an apheresis blood donation. Must keep in your mind that for apheresis donation, there are a few requirements, and it’s necessary for the donor to meet with following requirements

  • Donor weight must be a minimum of 115 pounds.
  • The minimum donor age is 16 years old, and his parents have permitted him.
  • The donor must be in good health.
  • If the donor satisfies all the requirements of apheresis blood donation, then the donor platelet will be counted before offering.
  • After meeting all the requirements, avoid aspirin intake 36 hours before blood donation if you are eligible.

Is apheresis safe? Yes. This process is safe for both donor and recipient. Apheresis donation is controlled by whole trained staff, who watch donors throughout the donation process. There is no risk of bleeding in this process because only a small amount of platelets are counted. Within 48 hours, new platelets are grown and take the place of platelets that are donated. The pieces of equipment needed for apheresis are:

  • Small-sized needle
  • Tubes
  • Plastic bags

Take note that used pieces of equipment are not used for another donor. Read more about why is blood donation important.

 

It’s A Wrap!

Thank you, my dear friends, for sticking with this topic at the end. We were very excited that you all would get the answer to what is apheresis blood donation! It may be a good idea to know why was my blood donation rejected and how organ donation saves lives.

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