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Platelet Donation Options for You Now

platelet donation process

The volume of blood collected should not exceed 13% of the total blood volume of the donor so that the body can adapt after donation. To ensure the effectiveness of a transfusion, the volume of whole blood collected must be at least 400 ml. 400 ml represents 12% of the total blood volume of a donor weighing 50 kg. With the essential platelet donation process this is important.

  • Age requirements to be met
  • to give blood

The age differs a little according to the types of donations practiced:

For the donation of whole blood: the donor must be between 18 to 70 years (under 60 for a first donation / 65 to 70 years: provided that each donation is authorized by a doctor of the blood establishment)

For plasma donation: the donor must be between 18 to 65 years old.

For platelet donation: the donor must be between 18 to 60 years old.

platelet donation process

The procedure for donating blood is the same regardless of the place of the collection (mobile collection or fixed site): there are 5 stages in the donor’s journey during a blood collection.

The donor is greeted and then undergoes a medical interview. The blood sample is taken. The donor is then invited to rest and is offered a snack.

After donation, the body compensates for donated blood loss, some activities are discouraged in the next few hours, and EFS conducts testing.

Stage 1 of the donor’s journey

  • During a blood drive
  • The reception of the donor

The reception has three functions:

  • The creation or update of the donor’s file.

The latter must present an identity document so that the EFS secretariat can take care of its administrative registration. The recorded data will allow him to contact him later for any information relating to his donation.

  • The attribution of a unique number for each donation on the national level.

It will be the only identifier that tracks the entire donation chain and anonymously guarantees the link between the donor and all transfused recipients. It’s called traceability.

  • Delivery to the donor of a health questionnaire to complete.

This is a document preparing for the medical interview. The donor is committed to answering questions sincerely. The gift is a responsible gesture: its frankness is essential for the total safety of the recipient.

Stage 2 of the donor’s journey

The medical interview

Confidential and covered by medical confidentiality, the interview between the donor and the doctor of the EFS is essential to guarantee the greatest possible security.

It is during this interview that the doctor makes sure that the donor does not take any risk: neither for himself nor for the recipient. It considers the donor’s medical history and looks for potential risk behaviors.

The donor is encouraged to read a number of information about blood donation and ask questions. The doctor provides the additional explanations necessary to understand the blood donation.

The doctor carries out a clinical examination: it consists in the taking of blood pressure and the verification of the hemoglobin level of the donor. This examination is mandatory before each blood donation.

At the end of the interview, the donor and the doctor jointly sign the questionnaire confirming that the donor:

  • Read and understand the information provided.
  • Had the opportunity to ask questions.
  • Received satisfactory answers to the questions he asked.
  • Has given consent to continue the donation process.
  • Affirms that all the information he has provided is accurate to his knowledge.