Are there different types of blood donation?
You have heard about platelet donation and assumed it was the same as regular blood donation, but have you stopped to consider different types of donation?
There are in fact four ways your blood can be harvested for use in saving lives.
Here are the options you have if you choose to donate according to the South African National Blood Service which is hoping to collect a large number of units during the #MissingType drive between June 11 and 18.
World Blood Donor Day falls on June 14.
Also read:Â Are you curious about donating blood? Find out all you need to know here
Whole blood
You can choose to donate whole blood which is the form of donation we are all familiar with.
Simply put, all parts of your blood are harvested and your would be donating a unit of blood for a patient.
This unit of blood can be processed into three components namely red cells, platelets and plasma.
The components are used to save three lives.
This process takes approximately 30 minutes to donate.
Platelets
The second donation option is donating platelets.
Platelets play a vital role in blood clotting and prevention of excess blood loss.
The blood is processed through a cell separator, which retains the platelets and returns the other blood components to the donor’s system.
This procedure enables people to donate platelets every month.
Platelet donation is a simple process that takes about an hour and a half to complete.
Plasma donation
Plasma donation is a similar process to platelet donation, and takes about an hour and a half.
The blood is processed through a cell separating machine that filters out the plasma and returns the red cells and other cellular components to the donor’s system.
Plasma can be donated every two weeks where possible.
Also read:Â Springsites reveal if they are blood donors
Autologous donation
Other specialised donations include Autologous donation where you donate blood for yourself before a pre-planned surgery and designated donation where your family and friends donate blood for you.
As this is a specialised donation, you are advised to contact the call centre on 0800 11 90 31 ahead of time to find out how to arrange this donation.
* Information obtained from www.sanbs.org.za
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