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Donating Blood: Know What to Expect

Donating blood is a simple, quick and easy process. Most donors do not feel any pain during their donation. The entire process for donating whole blood takes 30 minutes and for donating platelets the time is under 1 hour! Knowing what to expect and preparing ahead are the keys to a successful donation.

Blood Donation Procedure
Platelet Donation Procedure
Facts about Donating Blood
Donor Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions

Blood Donation Procedure

Preparation for the donation
Be sure to eat at your regular meal times and drink plenty of fluids. If you are preparing to give platelets through apheresis, do not take any aspirin 36 hours prior to donating.

Before the donation
You will need to provide some basic information such as your name, address, age, social security number, etc. A medical history is taken and a drop of blood will be analyzed for hemoglobin content. Your pulse, blood pressure, and body temperature will also be checked.

During the donation
The actual drawing of blood is done by a skilled, specially trained technician and takes about eight minutes. There may be a little sting when the needle is inserted, but there should be no pain during the donation. The materials, including the needle used for your donation, are new, sterile, disposable and used only once. You will give about one pint of whole blood. The average adult has between eight and twelve pints of blood and can easily spare one.

After the donation
You will visit a canteen area to rest and have some refreshments. Most people feel great after the donation. After leaving the center, you can resume full acitivity as long as you feel well. Avoid heavy lifting and pushing heavy objects for four to five hours after giving blood. Drink extra fluids for the next 48 hours. Your body will replace blood volume and plasma within 24 hours, but needs four to eight weeks for complete red cell replacement. You can donate every 56 days.

Platelet Donation Procedure

Preparation, before and after the donation
Similar to whole blood donation

During the donation
Apheresis donation feels much the same as whole blood donation. The blood is taken from your arm and channeled through a sterile, disposable kit housed in a special machine. The platelets are separated and the rest of the blood is returned to the donor, usually through the same needle. All tubing, bags, and needles used in the process are new, sterile and used only once by the donor. After use, they are destroyed. The process usually takes an hour and you can give platelets every two to four weeks.

To learn more about either procedure contact the center at (630) 856-7840.

Facts About Donating Blood

1. Blood cannot be manufactured. People are the only source.
2. Donating blood is quick, safe, and simple.
3. One pint of blood can save up to three lives.
4. All equipment is sterile; it's disposed of after one use.
5. You cannot get AIDS from donating blood.
6. The normal adult of average weight has 10-12 pints of blood.
7. You can donate blood every 56 days or eight weeks.
8. More than 90% of Americans reaching age 72 will need blood products in their lifetime.
9. It is estimated that 60 - 70% of Americans are eligible to give blood, but only 5% of eligible donors actually do.
10. A unit of red cells will last up to 42 days; a unit of platelets will last 5 days.

Donor Requirements

1. Must weigh at least 110 pounds.
2. Must be at least 17 years of age (16 with parental consent).
3. Must be in general good health.
4. At least 56 days since last donation.
5. No alcohol for 24 hours prior to donating.
6. No major illness or surgery in the last 12 months.
7. Eat within 4 hours of donating; drink extra fluids.
8. No tattoos, acupuncture, body piercings or accidental needlesticks in last 12 months.
9. No allergy, cold, flu, fever or sore throat symptoms 5 days prior to donation.
10. No dental surgery 3 days prior to donating
11. No pregnancy in the last 6 weeks.
12. If on medications, check with center.
13. If traveled out of the country, check with center.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I become a blood donor?

Each year over 4 million Americans need blood transfusions. These transfusions are require for accident victims, cancer and leukemia patients, patients having various surgeries and premature infants. The only source for these blood transfusions is through volunteer donors. At the ALPS Blood center, when you give blood with us you can be assured that your donation is saving the life of someone in this very community.

Who can donate blood?

A list of requirements is located under Donor Requirements (Link). Blood donations may be scheduled by calling (630) 856-7840. Blood may be donated as often as every 8 weeks and platelets can be donated every 2 weeks, but no more than 26 times each year.

Are there any risks involved in donating?

The collection kits are disposable and discarded after every procedure. Therefore, the donor is not at any risk for getting any viral disease. Occasionally, a bruise may develop after the donation or the donor may have a slight reaction.

Why are platelet donations important?

Platelets are essential to normal blood clotting. They can be wiped out during treatment for cancer, leukemia and other diseases. Platelets can be taken from whole blood donation too, but apheresis donations provide more concentrated products in larger volumes than what can be taken from whole blood donation. It takes six to ten whole blood donations to extract the same amount of platelets that one apheresis donation can provide.