Types of Blood Donations
Find the right type of donation for you
Whether you donate whole blood, platelets, or plasma—your blood donation saves lives. Review the donor FAQs for eligibility requirements and to prepare for your donation.
Whole Blood | Red Blood Cell | Plasma | Platelet
COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma (CCP) | Designated | Autologous | Therapeutic
-Whole Blood Donation
During a whole blood donation, one pint of blood is collected. When it is processed in the lab, the blood is separated into 3 components—red blood cells, plasma and platelets. This one pint of blood can save up to three lives. Please allow one hour to complete the entire donation process.
After registration and a mini health check, a whole blood donation takes about 5-10 minutes. Whole blood donors are eligible to give blood every 8 weeks. Donors ages 17 and 18 may donate every 6 months. Eligibility dates for all types of donations are available in the donor portal.
Make an appointment to donate whole blood
-Red Blood Cell Donation
A double red blood cell donation is collected through a process called apheresis where red blood cells are collected, and the remaining components (platelets and plasma) are safely returned to the donor. It takes about 45 minutes to donate a double unit of red blood cells. Please allow 60-75 minutes to complete the entire process. Eligibility dates for all types of donations are available in the donor portal. Double red blood cell donors are eligible to donate every 16 weeks. Eligibility dates for all types of donations are available in the donor portal.
Red blood cells travel through your body delivering oxygen. Units of red blood cells are often used in emergency and operating rooms when treating accident victims and during surgeries. Red blood cells are also necessary when treating patients with anemia.
Make an appointment to donate double reds
-Plasma Donation
A plasma donation is collected through a process called apheresis where plasma is collected, and the remaining components (platelets and red blood cells) are safely returned to the donor. It takes about 45 minutes to donate plasma. Please allow an hour and a half to complete the entire process. Plasma donors are eligible to donate every 4 weeks.
Plasma donors may be asked to donate a combination of units which may extend donation eligibility. For example, if an individual donates a plasma unit and an RBC unit, your eligibility will vary. Eligibility dates for all types of donations will be posted in the donor portal.
Plasma is the liquid portion of the blood that carries clotting factors and proteins. Plasma is needed to treat burn victims, trauma patients and those battling severe liver disease and cancer.
Make an appointment to donate plasma
-Platelet Donation
A platelet donation is collected through a process called apheresis where platelets are collected, and the remaining components (plasma and red blood cells) are safely returned to the donor. Platelet donation takes 75 to 90 minutes depending on the quantity donated. Please allow about 2 hours for the entire process.
Platelet donors are eligible to donate every seven days, however it is more common to donate every 2 to 4 weeks. Platelet donors may be asked to donate a combination of units which may extend donation eligibility. For example, if an individual donates a single platelet unit, an RBC unit, and a plasma unit, your eligibility will vary. Eligibility dates for all types of donations are available in the donor portal.
Platelets are blood cells that help control bleeding. Patients undergoing bone marrow transplants, surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation or organ transplants often need platelets to survive.
Platelets have a very limited shelf life of five days and are delivered quickly to patients that need them.
Make an appointment to donate platelets
-COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma (CCP) Donation
Recovered from COVID-19? Your plasma may help critical patients.
While COVID-19 has no proven treatment, plasma donated by those who have recovered (called convalescent plasma) may help patients fighting COVID-19. This is because your body has developed antibodies against the virus. Convalescent plasma donation takes about 45 minutes to an hour.
CCP donors must sign up and our research team will follow up to validate eligibility.
-Designated Donation
A person, usually a friend or relative with the same blood type, can donate one or more units of blood in advance of a planned surgery or procedure. The designated donor blood must undergo the same tests
as anonymous donor bloods.
Call (877) 659-2001 or email patientservices@sdbb.org.
-Autologous Donation
Patients scheduled for non-emergency surgery may donate blood for themselves to be stored until their surgery. This donation is suggested in anticipation of a surgical procedure where significant blood loss is common.
Call (877) 659-2001 or email patientservices@sdbb.org.
-Therapeutic Donation
A therapeutic phlebotomy is a blood collection prescribed by a patient’s physician to withdraw a specific volume of blood to treat conditions where the patient has too many red blood cells.
Call (877) 659-2001 or email patientservices@sdbb.org.
