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Meet Amber

Sharing diverse, remarkable, and inspiring real-life stories is what the I am OneBlood movement is all about.

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Become an agent of change and host a blood drive.

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Our Service Area

We are committed to saving lives in your community.

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You get rewarded every time you donate with OneBlood.

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Following the Holiday, there is an Urgent Need for Platelet Donations. Please Donate Now!

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Platelet Donation

During a platelet donation, we only collect your platelets, returning the rest of the blood to your body. This specialized donation process is known as automation, or apheresis.

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Platelet Donation

During a platelet donation, we only collect your platelets, returning the rest. This specialized donation process is known as automation or apheresis.

Find a Donation Center or Blood Drive Save a Life

 

What Does the Donation Process Look Like?

Platelet donation involves several simple steps and an automated process known as apheresis. Watch the video to learn more. 

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Quick Facts

Platelets are tiny cells in your blood that form clots and stop bleeding.

How Often Can I Donate

You can donate platelets every seven days, and we recommend every 14 days. You can give up to 24 times a year.

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Time Commitment

How long does it take to donate platelets? It usually takes three hours, with the donation itself typically lasting around 1.5 hours.

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Platelet Storage

Platelets must be transfused within five days and are always in demand.

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Blood Types

People with the following blood types should consider donating platelets.

 

O+  A+  B+  AB+ 

woman donating platelets at a oneblood blood donor center

Making an Impact

Platelets play a vital role in the clotting process, which helps control bleeding and promotes healing. Patients with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, blood disorders, or those undergoing organ transplants, often experience a decrease in platelet count or function. 

Meet Dalissia

“Platelet donors helped me deliver my baby at only 29 weeks and saved my life.“

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Common Platelet Questions

Below are some frequently asked questions that arise when individuals are asked to donate platelets.

Does It Hurt?

At the beginning of the donation, you may only experience a brief pinch from the needle, while throughout the process, you should feel the sense of fulfillment, knowing that you are making a positive impact on patients within your community.

Can you feel the love?

Connie and her husband turned their evening together into a 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 “𝑫𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑵𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕” by donating blood on the Big Red Bus. It was his first time donating!

Why Donate Platelets?

Every 15 seconds, someone needs platelets. Platelets are a vital lifeline in patient battles against cancer, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries.

cancer patient and blood recipient isabella posing on the grass

What Are the Benefits of Platelet Donation?

Your donation is making a patient feel stronger right away. A smaller needle is used for a platelet donation, and after apheresis, most of your blood comes back to you, along with saline. This helps keep you hydrated and reduces tiredness.

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Learn About Donation Procedures

There’s more than one way to give blood. Let your blood type lead the way in targeting the best way for you to donate your powerful lifesaving gift.

Whole Blood

This is our most common procedure, drawing a pint of blood containing all blood components at one time.

Blood 101

Double Red Cell

During a double red blood cell donation, we only collect your red blood cells, excluding the platelets and plasma.

Blood Drive

Platelets

During a platelet donation, we only collect your platelets, returning the rest of the blood components.

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