Your community blood center says that “1 unit of blood can save up to 3 lives.” Source says that donating blood has several health benefits for the donor too. When a person hears about blood donations, they may picture a phlebotomist drawing a pint of blood from them. What you may not know is that you can donate a specific element of your blood. Because blood is broken down into multiple components. Here are the various types of blood donation:
Whole Blood Donation
This one is the most common type of blood donation that many people envision whenever they hear someone donate blood. When individuals donate blood, they donate their parts on the spot, and they can be broken down in the lab of a blood bank. People can donate whole blood almost every eight weeks (about 56 days).
Red Blood Cell Donation
Unlike donating a blood unit with its elements, this type of blood donation involves donating two components of red blood cells. Once the blood is collected, the red blood cells are separated from the other blood components in situ, and the other elements are “returned” to the donor’s entire body. Patients with chronic anemia, trauma, or internal injuries benefit most from red blood cell donation. People with type O blood are encouraged to donate red blood cells.
Due to the nature of this type of blood donation, additional requirements are needed to qualify for this type of blood donation. This form of blood donation takes 30 minutes longer than donating blood. A person can donate twice as many red blood cells every 16 weeks or so.
Platelet Donation
If someone participates in platelet donation, some plasma may be collected while platelets are being collected. This form of blood donation takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. Typically, someone may donate platelets three times, although platelet donors usually donate every two months (up to 13 times per year).
Plasma Donation
Plasma can be a very desirable part of blood vessels, as most of the healing elements of blood are found in plasma. You can donate only plasma or plasma and some platelets at the same time. If you donate plasma, it will not be used unless you donate it multiple times over a 6-month period (the first time is used for a safety screening to see if it can be used for donation). For first-time donors, the process takes about 2-3 hours, while veteran donors take about 90 minutes. A person can donate plasma up to 24 times a year, three times each or twice a week.