This donation entails a specialised collection process where an automated cell separator machine is used to separate and collect platelets from whole blood. This procedure is known as plateletpheresis and an aphaeresis machine separates the SDPs.
According to the patient’s need, a suitable donor is used for this procedure. The sterile integral tubing set is loaded and prepared on the machine for one-time use. The donor details are entered in the machine. The donor is connected to the machine using 17 gauze sterile needles on one or both arms while following all aseptic precautions. The whole blood is processed in the machine resulting in a product with at least 3x1011 platelets or greater suspended in plasma with a volume of 200 to 500 ml.
This procedure allows donors to donate many more platelets when compared to whole blood donation. The rest of the blood is returned to the donor. The removed platelets are regenerated in 48 hours, allowing the donor to donate again after three days. In comparison, after donating whole blood a donor has to wait for twelve weeks. It takes almost 90 minutes to complete this process.
The demand for platelets is high, especially in leukaemia patients undergoing chemotherapy. Unfortunately, the availability of these life-saving platelets is low. Our hospital requests your cooperation and support in maintaining the supply of platelets for patients when required.
A donor for plateletpheresis undergoes a haemoglobin screening, like that of a blood donor, a confidential medical history discussion and a physical examination in which temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure and haemoglobin levels are checked. Blood samples are collected for complete blood count, malaria, Hepatitis B and C, VDRL and HIV. The results are valid only for seven days to a month. If the platelet donation to be conducted after a month, the donor’s sample is tested again for the above parameters.
Apheresis Technology is also utilized to perform therapeutic plasma Exchange in indications like certain blood, neurologic, or autoimmune diseases. Examples are: