What are platelets?
Platelets are small, colourless cell fragments circulating in the blood.
When a blood vessel is injured, platelets collect at the site and form a ‘plug’ to stop bleeding.
Who needs platelets?
- Patients with leukemia and other cancers undergoing chemo and radiation therapy
- Bone marrow or organ transplant patients
- Major surgery patients
- Major trauma patients
- Patients with aplastic anemia
How do you donate platelets?
Platelets are collected by drawing your blood into a disposable kit and then processing it through a blood cell separator, after which it is separated into different components by spinning.
The platelets are removed and collected in a bag, while the remaining components are returned to your body.
The donation process takes about 90-100 minutes depending on the procedure.
Terrance Pillay, public relations practitioner of East Rand for the South African National Blood Service (SANBS), says the AB and A blood types are best suited for platelet donations as opposed to the O blood type which is more in demand when it comes to blood donations.
“The O blood group can provide blood to most of the other blood groups, therefore making it high in demand,” says Pillay.
What are the requirements for donating platelets?
- Be healthy
- Weigh more than 55kg
- Be between 16 and 65 years of age
- Consider your blood and blood platelets safe to give to a patient
- Not have taken aspirin in the past seven days prior to donating
- Not have taken any anti-inflammatory medication in the past three days
- Have a platelet count of above 200 000 per micro-litre
Where can one donate?
Platelet donations can be made at Special Donor Services Centres which are located in Alberton, Bloemfontein, Durban, Fairlands, Johannesburg, Krugersdorp, Northgate, Peitermaritzburg and Pretoria.
Pillay also says there will be one opening soon in Benoni.
