RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE

Two of the major benefits of the Red Cross blood drive are plasma apheresis and platelet apheresis. These two uses for blood can save lives within hours of your donation. Plasma and platelet apheresis help save different diseases.

Platelet apheresis can help save the lives of people who are undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy. It can help someone undergoing a bone marrow transplant. People who undergo organ transplants need platelets for survival.

Platelet apheresis is a simple process that takes a little bit longer than a normal blood donation. The blood is drawn from the vein of the donor into an apheresis instrument. This instrument separates the platelets from the blood, and the remaining blood is put back into the donor. The platelets are replenished within the body of a donor in less than 48 hours.

The Red Cross blood drive also helps with plasma apheresis. This type of treatment can help people who are burn and transplant victims. It can be used for cardiovascular therapy, newborn babies, and to treat people who have leukemia. Many people need plasma for immunity. Plasma can also be used for people who have difficulties with bleeding problems and plasma can help with blood clotting.

Plasma apheresis is similar to the platelet apheresis, but instead of separating the platelets from the blood, the plasma is separated from the blood. The plasma is removed and the remainder of the blood is returned back into the donor. This type of donation takes about 20 minutes longer than a normal blood donation and the plasma removed from the donors body will be replenished within a couple of days.

The Red Cross blood drive helps people in need with many different diseases and the blood is used in many types of ways. The platelet apheresis and the plasma apheresis are two of the many ways that people can give back to their community and help people who are medically in need of blood. These two particular methods only take a portion of the blood and give the donor back what is left.

The Red Cross blood drive helps millions of people around the world everyday.

Related Links:
American Red Cross Jobs
American Red Cross