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What's it like to donate platelets?
Who needs my platelets?
Is it safe to donate platelets?
Can I donate platelets and still be a whole blood donor too?
How does the program work?
How many points do I get?
When will my points be posted to my account?
Do my points ever expire?
What can I get with my points?
Can I donate my points to charitable organizations?
Can I transfer my points to a friend or family member?
How do I claim my gift?
When will I get my gift?
Where do I donate platelets?
What's it like to donate platelets?
A platelet donation feels much the same as a whole blood donation. A small amount of blood is taken from your arm using a new, sterile, single use needle. The blood then literally ‘takes a spin’ in a centrifuge to separate your platelets from other blood components. The platelets are collected in a separate bag and the remainder of your blood is returned to you. This cycle is repeated several times to generate the required volume of platelets. <Back to Top>
Who needs my platelets?
Platelets are essential to normal blood clotting. Platelets are often used to treat:
- Cancer patients
- Accident victims
- Patients with blood disorders
- Bone marrow transplant patients
The need for platelets is constant.
Platelets are very fragile, short lived blood cells that must be transfused within 5 days of donation. Weekends and long holidays can place an added strain on the supply of platelets. You can safely donate platelets every 3 days up to 24 times a year. <Back to Top>
Is it safe to donate platelets?
At all times during the platelet collection process your blood remains inside a sterile tubing system and is never in contact with the equipment used for your platelet donation. All tubing, bags and the needle used to collect your platelets are new, sterile and used only once for you. After use, they are destroyed. <Back to Top>
Can I donate platelets and still be a whole blood donor too?
You can donate whole blood in as few as three days after a platelet donation or donate platelets three days after a whole blood donation. You can donate platelets up to 24 times each year and whole blood every 56 days. Donor eligibility guidelines are the same for both platelet and whole blood donations except platelet donors are asked to refrain from aspirin or products containing aspirin for 72 hours prior to donation. <Back to Top>
How does the program work?
Simple. Each time you give platelets, you earn points. After you reach at least 400 points, you can go online to redeem your points for a thank you gift from New York Blood Center. <Back to Top>
How many points do I get?
Each single Platelet donation is worth 100 points. Additional points will be given for Double or Triple platelet donations. Additional points will also be given for other multiple product platelet donations; or for donations in specific time periods, see the RULES for additional details. <Back to Top>
When will my points be posted to my account?
Advantage Points will be posted to your donor profile 5 days after your donation. You may redeem them at any time thereafter. <Back to Top>
Do my points ever expire?
You will retain all your earned points if you make at least one blood or platelet donation every 180 days. If you do not meet this requirement you will forfeit 50 Platelet Advantage points. This requirement will be waived while any donor is temporarily or permanently deferred from donating.
The above requirements will be waived while any donor is temporarily or permanently deferred from donating blood. <Back to Top>
What can I get with my points?
Your Platelet Advantage points are redeemable for a wide variety of gifts. Simply click here to view what is available today. Gifts are always changing based on availability. You can redeem for a smaller gift of at least 400 points or wait until you have thousands of points for a larger gift. You decide. <Back to Top>
Can I donate my points to charitable organizations?
Yes, whenever you donate platelets, you always have the thanks of grateful patients who receive your products. If you’d like to donate your Advantage points, simply click here and select the option for the point value you’d like to donate. Thank you! <Back to Top>
Can I transfer my points to a friend or family member?
No, Platelet Advantage points are not transferable and not redeemable for cash. <Back to Top>
How do I claim my gift?
Easy. Click here and login using your email address, birth date and password. This is the same password you use to schedule appointments with New York Blood Center on www.nybloodcenter.org. From here you’ll see your point balance and the gifts available. <Back to Top>
When will I get my gift?
After your order is placed, your gift will be mailed to you within 2-4 weeks. If you have any questions about your order status, contact our New York Blood Center's Platelet Concierge hotline: 1-866-PL8LETS (758-5387) <Back to Top>
Where do I donate platelets?
You can donate platelets at any New York Blood Center Location. Call 1-866-PL8LETS (758-5387)
If you have any other question that is not answered here, please feel free to call our Platelet concierge hotline at 1-866-PL8LETS (758-5387). We are here specifically to help platelet donors like you Monday-Friday 8:00AM – 9:00PM Saturday 9:00AM – 5:00PM. <Back to Top>
- Platelets are a component of blood that is needed for clotting.
- Platelets are used by cancer patients, accident victims and to help treat other blood disorders.
- Platelets have a shelf life of just 5 days.
- You can donate platelets every 3 days up to 24 times each year. The body replenishes donated platelets very rapidly.
- We can separate platelets from a whole blood donation but it would require 6-8 whole blood donations to generate the same volume of platelets as we get from ONE platelet donation procedure.
- One platelet donation provides enough platelets for a transfusion and is preferred over a platelet transfusion that comes from “pooled platelets” from 6-8 different whole blood donors.
- Some donors have a “high platelet count” which enables them to donate a ‘double’ or ‘triple’ unit without any compromise to their health.
- Some patients who require frequent platelet transfusions need “HLA-matched” platelets. These units come from donors who share the same HLA (human leukocyte antigen) type as the patient. This helps assure that the platelets will help the patient’s blood perform its normal clotting function.
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