Aphaeresis Donation (SDP)

Though most blood is donated as whole blood, it is also possible to donate only a portion of blood using a technique called “Aphaeresis”. During the aphaeresis donation, we draw blood from the donor’s vein through a sterile tube into a cell-separator machine. The machine spins the blood (called centrifugation) to separate the needed component-platelets/plasma/red cells, and then returns the remaining components to the donor in the same vain or other arm. By appropriately adjusting the instrument, a selected portion of the blood such as platelets can be recovered.

Patients with cancer or leukemia, organ transplant patients, and people with blood disorders such as aplastic anemia, benefit from platelet transfusions. During chemotherapy and radiation treatment, both cancer cells and platelets are destroyed. Many of these patients need platelet transfusions to prevent uncontrolled bleeding.

While this process takes slightly more time than a regular whole blood donation, such donations are completely safe and extremely needed. It takes approximately one hour for a plasma donation and two hours for a platelet donation. Prathama has latest equipments and well qualified medical staff to support such donations.

Needle, tubing, and collection bags in the machine are sterile and discarded after each donation. Experienced staff closely supervises the procedure and take readings from time to time. Donors can comfortably watch video; listen to music, read books during the donation process.

Next time when you visit Prathama check out with our Doctor for Aphaeresis donation.