(plat' let-fe-re' sis)
 Plateletphereis is a platelet donation. The process allows you to give just part of your blood – platelets. When a blood vessel is damaged, platelets collect at the site of the injury and temporarily repair the tear. Platelets then activate substances in plasma which form a clot and allow the wound to heal. Platelets can only be stored for 5 days.
During platelepheresis, blood is extracted from the donor’s arm and mixed with a solution to keep it from clotting. Then it goes into a sterile disposable set installed on the blood cell separator. When the blood is in the separator, platelets are removed. The rest of the blood – plasma, red cells and white cells are returned to the donor.
The procedure takes approximately 1 – 2 hours to complete. It is longer than a regular donation because it takes extra time to separate the blood components and collect the platelets. Platelet donations are needed daily to replenish the supply.
Platelets are used for:
- Patients who are undergoing treatment of serious problems like leukemia, cancer and aplastic anemia.
- Patients who may have uncontrolled bleeding.
Anyone meeting the criteria for a whole blood donor with an added requirement of no aspirin or aspirin containing products within the last 36 hours.
Generally a person may donate platelets as often as every 48 hours but no more than 24 times a year.
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