Platelets are tiny, copuscular elements in the blood that are critical to the control of bleeding. Many patients develop platelet shortages from illness, and others do as a result of chemotherapy, radiation or cardiac surgery. In order to treat all these groups, it is necessary to provide "platelet transfusions."

Years ago, the only way to collect enough platelets for a transfusion was to take blood donations from many donors, separate the platelets from the other blood cells, and combine the platelets into one transfusion.Today, "blood cell separators" allow collection of enough platelets for transfusion from a single donor. In a process called "apheresis," blood is drawn from the donor into an instrument that separates the blood into separate portions by centrifugation. Platelets can be recovered, while the rest of the blood is returned to the donor.

Though the procedure takes somewhat more time than whole blood donation, it is a simple, safe process. Because the body starts replenishing platelets immediately after donation, a donor's platelets are completely replenished within about 48 hours. This means that those so-inclined can donate platelets up to two dozen times per year.(At QueensBloodDonor, an individual may donate again after 72 hours.)

If you wish to donate platelets, please call to set up an appointment at:

718-670-1007

but, please remember... no aspirin for 72 hours prior to donating platelets!