Donating plasma is a crucial, voluntary process that can help individuals with trauma situations in hospitals. It is a safe process similar to donating blood, particularly when donating in a certified center with qualified personnel. If you are considering to donate plasma orem utah, it is essential to consider sterile and staffed centers with highly-trained professionals and meet the required qualifications.
While plasma donation feels similar to a regular blood donation, there are several ways to donate plasma and save someone’s life. With that, here are the four common types of blood donation you should know.
Whole Blood Donation
Whole blood refers to the blood that flows through your veins within the body and contains red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, all suspended in plasma. Whole blood donation is the most adaptable type of plasma donation, transfused in its primary forms. It can also help several patients when separated into particular components of red cells, platelets, and plasma.
Whole blood donation often helps save children’s lives, including adults with cancer, traumatic injuries, and blood disorders. This type of plasma donation is the fastest, and donors must be 17 or older and weigh at least 110 lbs. Candidates must also be healthy and perform all activities and feel healthy. However, if you need to donate plasma but suffer from chronic conditions like diabetes, you must be treated and have the condition under control before donation.
Other eligibility requirements may apply when donating plasma, including certain medications, personal history, travel to certain countries, and medical conditions. It is also paramount to consult your doctor to understand effective ways to prepare for the donations before visiting the center.
Power Red Donation
Power red donation is comparable to a whole blood donation though it uses a special machine designed to ensure the safe donation of two units of red blood cells in a single donation. During donation, the machine returns your plasma and platelets to you after separating and collecting the units from your blood. However, donors may feel more hydrated after donation despite the machine returning their platelets and plasma along with some saline.
Unlike whole blood donation, power red donation lets donors donate two units of red blood cells at one appointment. The process is quite safe and may take more time to complete the donation process compared to a whole blood donation. You may be eligible for plasma donation if you have type O, A negative, or B negative. You must also meet all whole blood donation requirements to qualify as a donor.
Other eligibility requirements to donate plasma orem utah through this type of donation include being at least 17 years and older and weight a minimum of 130 lbs for males and at least 19 years and older and weighing more than 150 lbs for females. The donor must also be healthy and donate every 112 days up to three times annually.
Platelet Donation
Platelets are the tiniest cells in the blood that create clots during bleeding. It is a crucial component in the body and critical for patients fighting cancer, chronic diseases, and traumatic injuries. In the United States, every 15 seconds, someone needs platelets, meaning new donors are required daily. Patients are attached to an apheresis machine that collects platelets with some plasma from their bodies during a platelet donation. The returning blood often carries red cells and more plasma back to the donor.
A single platelet donation can result in several transfusable units, about five times more than a whole blood donation that yields one transfusable unit of platelets. Platelets play a major role in patients undergoing cancer treatment and organ transplant procedures, and other surgical procedures. To qualify as a platelet donor, you must be of good health, at least 17 years old, and with blood type A positive, A negative, B positive, O positive, AB positive, and AB negative. Donors can donate their platelets every seven days, up to 24 times annually.
AB Elite Plasma Donation
A single AB Elite donation can deliver about four plasma units to patients, allowing donors to make a greater impact. Blood is collected from a single arm and passed through a high-tech machine during a plasma-only donation. The machine then draws plasma and returns red cells and platelets back to the donor safely and comfortably. The process is often longer compared to donating blood and may have a great impact.
Donors must have a type AB blood, which is the only universal type, making them ideal candidates for AB Elite plasma or platelets donations. In the United States, about four percent of the population has type AB blood and can donate every 28 days or up to 13 times a year. The plasma products donated are commonly used by trauma, cancer, and burn patients, including those with life-threatening conditions in need of plasma.
Qualifying for Plasma Donation
When looking to donate plasma orem utah, there are different requirements you must meet to guarantee safety and health after donation. The eligibility requirements to donate plasma include the following:
- Be at least 18 years older
- Weigh at least 110 lbs and more
- Pass a medical screening procedure
- Be in overall good health
- Test negative for viral infections and viruses that can be passed through blood, like HIV.
- Pass a medical history screening process
While some states may have varying qualifications, some allow 16-year-old teens to donate with the approval of a parent. On the other hand, high-risk groups cannot be allowed to donate blood or plasma. These include those who have:
- Infiltrated drugs or steroids not prescribed by a medical professional
- Tested positive for hepatitis or HIV
- A congenital blood clotting condition
- Babesiosis, a tick disease, or Chagas disease, a parasitic infection
Bottom Line
Blood and plasma donation are similar processes that allow a donor to save a life by donating blood or plasma and giving it to a patient with cancer or a life-threatening condition. Above are some common types of blood donation, including plasma donations and eligibility requirements to become a donor.