How You Can Help
Types of Donation
Whole blood: This is collected using a single needle and a blood bag. A donor can donate every 56 days (8 weeks). This collection takes only about 7-12 minutes; the complete process takes about 20 to 40 minutes. Red blood cells are good for 42 days.
Platelets and platelets plus red blood cells: These are collected using a single needle with an apheresis machine. This machine will then spin the blood and separate its components. The machine can keep the platelets and/or the platelets and the red cells. The machine can then return the remaining components to back to the donor in intervals. A platelet donor can donate once every 48 hours no more than 24 times a year. This collection takes 1 to 1 1/2 hours, the complete process takes between 1 1/2 and 2 hours. Platelets are only good for 48 hours. MD Anderson transfuses approximately 600 platelet components daily
Double red cells: These are collected using a single needle with an apheresis machine. This machine will then spin the blood and separate its components. The machine will only keep the red cells. The machine can then return the remaining components back to the donor in intervals. If a donor donates double red cells they will not be eligible to donate any other type of blood product for 112 day (16 weeks). This collection taking 25-35 minutes, the complete process takes between 35 - 45 minutes. MD Anderson needs approximately 200 units of red cells daily.
Minimum Height /Weight Requirements Double Red Cell Donations
| MALE | FEMALE | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Height | Weight | Height | Weight |
| 5'0" | 180 | 5'0" | 205 |
| 5'1" | 175 | 5'1" | 200 |
| 5'2" | 170 | 5'2" | 200 |
| 5'3" | 165 | 5'3" | 195 |
| 5'4" | 160 | 5'4" | 190 |
| 5'5" | 155 | 5'5" | 185 |
| 5'6" | 150 | 5'6" | 180 |
| 5'7" | 145 | 5'7" | 175 |
| 5'8" | 140 | 5'8" | 170 |
| 5'9" | 135 | 5'9" | 165 |
| 6'0" | 130 | 6'0" | 155 |
| 6'1" | 120 | 6'1" | 150 |
| 6'2" | 115 | 6'2" | 145 |
| 6'3" | 110 | 6'3" | 140 |