South Bend Medical Foundation offers 3 different ways to donate blood and its components. . What we ask a person to donate may vary based on a person's blood type, platelet count, their last donation, our inventory status or patient needs. People can also donate for themselves or for a specific person. What is most important to remember is that each and every donation, whole blood or components, are critically needed and helps save lives.

1. Whole Blood Donation

Whole Blood Donation is the most common type of blood donation. During this process approximately one pint of whole blood is donated. Each unit of whole blood is separated into 3 main parts: red blood cells, platelets and plasma. Therefore, with each whole blood donation, up to 3 lives can be saved!

Donating whole blood is safe and simple. The entire process, from registration to refreshments, takes approximately one hour. Strict procedures for every step of the process ensure the safety of the donor and of the blood supply. Whole blood donors can donate every 56 days or up to six times a year. You must wait 56 days between whole blood donations to allow plenty of time for your body to replenish red cells.

About 400 whole blood donations are needed each week in our community to maintain an adequate supply for area hospitals and doctor offices. Approximately 200 patients in St. Joseph County use blood and blood products each week. These donations help patients, heal and recover, and they save lives. Even more donations are needed during the summer months and around the holidays. During these times, the number of donations drop and the amount of blood being used increases. Click here to learn more about the whole blood donation process.

2. Double Red Cell Donation

Some people who meet specific height and weight requirements can choose to or will be advised to make an automated red cell donation. These donors (referred to as double red cell donors) help save two patients with their single automated red cell donation because it yields enough for two patients. Twice the amount of red cells is collected by an automated technology known as apheresis collections. Double red cell donors can donate every 112 days or 3 times a year. The double red cell donation takes only 20 minutes longer than a whole blood donation, so plan on about 1 hour and 20 minutes for the entire donation process.

Double Red Cell Donor Qualifications
The qualifications for double red donors are similar to those for regular blood donations. Please click here to review the Whole Blood Donor Qualifications. Double red cell donors must also meet the following height, weight and hematocrit requirements:

• Males: Minimum weight of 130 lbs., minimum height of 5'1"
• Females: Minimum weight of 150 lbs., minimum height of 5'5"
• Hematocrit (Iron Level): For both men and women the percent must be 40 or above.

3. Platelet Apheresis Donation

During a platelet apheresis donation, blood is drawn from the donor's arm and delivered through sterile tubing into a cell-separator machine. The machine spins the blood to separate the needed components, and then returns the un-needed Components back to the donor in the same arm. The donation contains about six times as many platelets as a unit obtained from whole blood. Platelets are used to treat a condition called thrombocytopenia, a shortage of platelets, and in patients with abnormal platelet function. Platelets are stored at room temperature for up to five days.

The entire apheresis process takes about 2 ½ hours, including registration and a written medical history exam. Donors are welcome to watch television or videos during the donation process.

Making an apheresis donation is completely safe. The needle, tubing and collection bag in the machine are sterile and discarded after each donation. Each donation is closely supervised by trained staff that observes the donor throughout the process.

Platelet apheresis donors may donate more frequently -- as often as once every ten days and up to 24 times per year. This is because the body replenishes platelets and plasma more quickly than red cells. Platelets will return to normal levels within about 72 hours of donating. Plasma (the liquid portion of your blood) will return to normal levels within a couple of days. Please note, if you alternate between giving platelets and donating whole blood or double red cell, the waiting time varies.

Platelet Apheresis Donor Qualifications The qualifications for platelet donors are similar to those for regular blood donations. Please click here to review the Whole Blood Donor Qualifications. A small tube of blood will be drawn before your first platelet donation to determine if you have an adequate amount of platelets to donate. Platelet donors must not have taken aspirin for 72 hours before donating.

If you would like to become a platelet apheresis donor, please contact our Apheresis Ambassador, Michele Tharp at (574) 234-1157. You can also learn about the fun program for dedicated apheresis donors, called the "A" Team. Click here to find out how to become a member of the "A" Team!

Note on Autologous and Directed Blood Donations:

An autologous blood donation is a process where a patient donates their blood and it is stored for their own upcoming surgery. Some medical conditions will keep you from being able to make an autologous donation. But many of the qualifications for donation to the community blood supply do not apply for autologous donations. Please note that the autologous donation must be ordered from your doctor.

A directed blood donation is when a patient selects a specific blood donor to donate for them. If you are in need of blood or blood products, a directed donation allows you to receive blood from your family members and friends. There is no medical evidence that shows directed blood donations are safer than donations from the community blood supply. Directed donations may not be appropriate for emergency procedures because it takes time to fully test and process each unit of blood before transfusion. Please also know that the directed donors must meet the whole blood donor requirements and have a compatible blood type to the recipient to be eligible for a directed donation.

If directed donations meet all the requirements but for some reason (such as a change in the date for surgery) cannot be used for the intended patients, those units of blood may be used in the community blood supply. This is done so no viable donation is wasted.

There are processing fees associated with both autologous and directed blood donations. Please call (574) 234-1157 for more information on these special types of donations.