By donating your platelets through platelet apheresis (ay-fer-ee-sis), you give a very special gift of life. Most patients undergoing a bone marrow transplant, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation treatment or organ transplant need platelets in order to survive. In fact, doctors are finding that platelets play a vital role in more and more new therapies. With just a five-day storage life, platelet donations are delivered quickly to the patients who need them. Platelet donors have the satisfaction of knowing that their donation will be saving a life within just a few days.

Until recently, the only way to collect enough platelets for a single transfusion was to take blood donations from 5 to 10 donors, separate the platelets from the other blood cells, and combine the platelets to obtain a large enough quantity for transfusion. Today, sophisticated medical equipment — blood cell separators — can collect enough platelets for transfusion from a single donor. Using a technique called apheresis, blood is drawn from the donor's vein into an apheresis instrument, which separates the blood into separate portions by centrifugation.

By appropriately adjusting the instrument, a selected portion of the blood, such as the platelets, can be recovered, while the rest of the blood is returned to the donor either into the same vein or into a vein in the other arm.
This process takes more time than whole blood donation, but the percentage of platelets is much greater. It is a simple, safe process — very much like regular blood donation. In fact, your body starts replenishing platelets immediately after your donation. Within 48 hours, your body's platelets should be completely replenished.

Blood is made of four components: platelets, plasma, red blood cells and white blood cells. The platelet component is necessary to control bleeding. Patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments, for example, are unable to produce enough platelets. Without platelet transfusion, life-threatening hemorrhages could result.

By using a special method called apheresis, whole blood is separated into components, and the platelets are removed. Specially trained staff conduct the procedure while you relax, watch TV or read. The entire process takes about two hours.

Unfortunately not every one who is a blood donor can give platelets.
* You need to have given blood without any problems such as fainting or bruising.
* We need platelet donors of groups O, A and B. (Group AB patients can receive group A platelets).
* There is a lower age limit of 18 as donors need to give whole blood without problems first. There is an upper limit of 60 for new platelet donors, and existing donors may continue to age 65 (the procedure puts more of a strain on the circulation than whole blood donation).
* Your weight must be greater than 60 kg to be able to donate platelets.
* You should not be on aspirin or any of the anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen. These drugs stop the platelets working properly.
* Platelet donors are asked to attend regularly - at least 8-10 times per year. We understand some people are unable to do this because of the travelling and time commitment.

A cuff is placed around your arm, the skin cleaned, local anesthetic may be injected and the donation needle inserted. Depending on the type of machine used a needle may be put in both arms. Blood samples are taken at this stage for testing in the same way as whole blood donations. Additional tests carried out for platelet donors are to check your general state of health, in particular, to check your platelet count and to determine your tissue type (so that your platelets can be matched to those of a particular patient if needed).

During the procedure, blood is withdrawn, mixed with anticoagulant to prevent clotting and processed by spinning to separate the platelets. The rest of the blood is returned to you, which is why it is safe for you to donate at a much higher frequency than whole blood (as often as every 2 weeks!).

During the procedure, any white cells that remain in your platelet donation are also removed as these could cause problems in a patient despite being harmless to you.All the tubing that blood comes into contact with is sterile and disposable. There is, therefore, no risk of 'catching' any infection.

Also, during the return of your blood, air detectors ensure that none of the sterile air present in the collection gets passed into your vein. If a detector identifies air, the machine will automatically shut down and can only be restarted when the air has been removed. While you are donating you will be monitored and cared for by qualified staff supervised by nurses. You can read, chat to the staff or relax and you will be offered refreshments. When the procedure is completed the needle(s) will be removed and a dressing applied to the venepuncture site(s). Following the donation, which should take approximately 90 minutes, you will be able to take a well earned break in our rest area and enjoy some more refreshment if you wish.

Because platelets are quickly replenished by your body, you can donate platelets as frequently as every 48 hours, but no more than 24 times a year. Additional restrictions vary, however, depending on the donation center, type of procedure used, and your donation history.

Call 9880132850

or

Mail sankalp.admin@gmail.com

to schedule a platelet apheresis donation. A Sankalp Volunteer will get in touch with you and enroll you for apheresis donation.