​Blood Platelets Donation

What is a platelets donation?

What are the platelets and what are their functions?

Platelets are a major blood component and they can be defined as small blood cells which are made in the bone marrow along with red blood cells and white blood cells.

They are very tiny blood cells that play an important role in the process of blood clotting, where the main function of platelets is to stop bleeding in addition to its ability to recruit more blood platelets to the wound site to stop the bleeding and save the lives of sick and injured patients.

What is the importance of donating platelets?

Platelets are important to save the lives of many patients and those injured in accidents, burns and major surgeries such as open heart surgery and organ transplantation, and in the treatment of many patients who suffer from a decreased number of  platelets  such as cancer patients specially those receiving chemotherapy,  patients who have a bone marrow transplant and patients with severe bleeding such as women in childbirth and premature infants and so the constant need for platelets always remains.

What is the process of donating platelets through the device for separating blood components?

The device withdraws blood from the donor's body and separates it to its components, keeps the platelets in a side bag and then returns the rest of the blood components to the body of the donor, This process takes about one hour amid careful monitoring and follow-up by qualified nurses.

How many platelets can be collected at each donation? And how many times can a healthy individual donate?

The volume of platelets that can be donated in normal conditions ranges from 250 to 300 milliliters, and healthy people who meet the requirements of the donation can donate every 72 hours, at a rate of only twice a week but no more than 24 times a year.

Platelets can be stored for only seven days, and that is why the need to donate platelets is large and persistent.

Who is eligible for Platelet Donation?

Those eligible for platelets donations:

• Are those in good general health
• Age between 18-65 years
• With body weight of more than 50 kg
• Have not taken aspirin or any medication that contains aspirin compound or antibiotics during the past days.
• Have a hemoglobin level from (13-18 grams per deciliter)
• Have a platelet count between (150 to 450 thousand)

Note: Laboratory tests will be conducted on the donor before donation to confirm the number of platelets in his body and the concentration of red blood cells in the blood so that you can donate using the technique of automatically separating blood components.

Is the procedure of platelets donation safe?

Yes, the procedure is quite safe, painless and easy and does not pose any risk to the donor, as the blood donation center of Hamad Medical Corporation is equipped with high technology and highly qualified medical and nursing staff, who are always keen to apply the highest standards of safety and quality in during the withdrawal of blood units and platelets collection. The sterile tubing system used in platelets collection is used only once and then disposed immediately after collection of platelets to ensure precautionary and preventive measures before and during the procedure to avoid infection transmission.

Where can I donate platelets?

Please visit one of the two locations below:

1. Blood Donor Center at Hamad Medical Corporation, next to Hamad General Hospital
   
   Official Working Hours:
   Sunday to Thursday: 7am to 7pm
   Saturday: 8am to 8pm
   
   
2. The new blood donor center next to HMC’s Ambulatory Care Center
   
   Working Hours:
   Sunday to Thursday: 7am to 1pm
   

For more information, please contact the Center on: 44391081/44391082

Thank you for your support and cooperation

Blood Donation Center
Hamad Medical Corporation