Carter Blood Center sends a team of nurses and medical technicians to Duncanville's First Baptist Church where church members and friends come to donate blood.  The next scheduled blood donor day is April 13, 2008.

 

These are the types of donations Carter Blood Center collects:

 

Whole Blood Donation

When blood is collected it still contains all of the blood components; thus it is called ‘Whole Blood’.  This is the most common type of blood donation.   During processing, each whole blood unit may be separated into up to four blood components: red blood cells, platelets, plasma and white blood cells.  In order to donate whole blood, donors must meet all routine donor eligibility criteria.  The donation process generally takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Whole blood donors may donate at mobile drives or at one of our convenient donor centers every 56 days.

 

Autologous Donation 

When scheduling non-emergency surgery or medical procedures that may require a blood transfusion, many patients elect to have blood drawn before the procedure in order to be transfused with their own blood.  This is called Autologous Donation (‘Auto’ meaning self).  Almost any blood product, from whole blood to peripheral stem cells, can be ordered for autologous donation.

 

Because the patient is receiving his own blood, there is almost no risk of adverse reaction or infectious disease; and because the blood is held in reserve for the patient, their blood is available when needed.  This type of donation helps to conserve our community blood supply for both emergencies and for those who cannot donate for themselves.

 

An Autologous donation requires a physician's prescription.  This may be faxed to Carter BloodCare or you may bring your prescription to one of our donor centers.  An appointment is required and your donation must occur at least 72 hours before your scheduled medical procedure.

 

When the Autologous blood unit is collected, it is carefully labeled to identify it as an Autologous unit belonging to that specific patient.  The unit is tracked through the processing, testing and delivery cycle to make sure it is available for the patient.  The patient’s unit is reserved for his/her own use and will not be transfused to another patient.  If the patient does not use the blood during the medical procedure, it will be discarded.  If the surgery is taking place outside the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Carter BloodCare ships the unit to the proper hospital; however, the patient is responsible for the processing and shipment fees for blood shipped out of the area.

 

To schedule an Autologous donation call the Special Donations department at (817) 412-5308.

 

Directed Donation 

If the physician and the patient decide a transfusion may be necessary, but the patient is not able to donate Autologous blood, the patient may specify a list of people (Directed donors) to donate blood for use his/her during a scheduled surgery or medical procedure.  The unit is reserved for that specific patient’s use.

 

All Directed donors must meet all routine donor eligibility criteria without exception.  The donor must supply Carter BloodCare with the following information at the time of donation: the patient’s full name, the patient’s date of birth, the proposed date of transfusion, the patient's physician’s name, the name of the patient's hospital, and the patient's social security number.  Directed donations must be made no more than 21 days before and no less than 72 hours before the date of transfusion.

 

Apheresis Donations

Special automated devices called Apheresis (a-fur-ee-sis) machines can separate blood into its components during the collection procedure.  Unlike a whole blood donation, during an apheresis donation the needed component, or a combination of components (such as platelets or plasma), can be collected and saved while the remaining components are returned to the donor.  The donor’s blood remains inside a sterile, disposable plastic bag at all times and is not exposed to any tubing or equipment that has been in contact with another donor's blood.  All apheresis donors must meet all routine donor eligibility criteria   Procedure: Whole blood is drawn from a donor's arm and channeled through the apheresis machine that separates and collects only the needed component(s). The remaining components are returned to the donor through the other arm.  In single needle procedures, the blood is withdrawn and returned in phases using one needle in one arm.  

 

A disposable "apheresis kit" is used for each procedure; this assures that each donation is absolutely safe and sterile.

 

Please consider becoming an apheresis donor; call the donor center nearest you to schedule an appointment or call 1-800-DONATE-4 and ask for the Telephone Recruitment Department or email us.

 

Platelet Donations

Platelets (the small, plate-shaped cells in the blood) start the formation of a clot (coagulate) when a blood vessel is broken.  Platelets stick together at the site of the injury and react with fibrinogen in the plasma to form a clot.  Platelets live about 9 days and are constantly being replaced by new ones produced in the bone marrow.

 

Platelets are vital to patients with leukemia and other cancers, patients undergoing open heart surgery, and those in need of bone marrow and organ transplants.  During an apheresis platelet donation, the donor can donate six to ten times more platelets than during a whole blood donation.  This makes reduces the risk of adverse transfusion reaction because instead of a patient receiving six units of platelets from six different donors, he or she can receive the same amount of platelets from just one donor.  The collection process takes approximately 90 minutes and may be performed as often as every two weeks. 

 

Plasma Donations

Plasma, the liquid portion of the blood, is needed in organ transplantation.  During an apheresis plasma donation, the donor can donate three times more plasma than during a whole blood donation.

 

This makes reduces the risk of adverse transfusion reaction because instead of a patient receiving three units of plasma from three different donors, he or she can receive the same amount of plasma from just one donor.  The entire collection process takes approximately 60 minutes and can be performed as often as every four weeks. 

 

Donors with blood type AB not only have a rare blood type (only four percent of the population is AB), but they also have a rare opportunity to save lives in a special way.  Donors with AB blood types have "universal donor plasma", so it can be transfused safely into a patient of any blood group.

 

Automated Red Cell Collection (2RBC)

Unlike a traditional whole blood donation, Automated Red Cell Collection (2RBC) allows the donor to safely give two units of red blood cells, instead of just one.  The process separates your blood into its components while it is being drawn.  Because only red blood cells are being collected, there will enough for two red cell transfusions.  The remaining components are returned to the donor.  The collection procedure takes just 20 minutes longer than a whole blood donation and can be performed every four months.  2RBC donors must meet certain height and weight requirements, as well as routine donor criteria:

 

Males:  Must weigh at least 130 lbs. and be 5'1" or taller.

Females:  Must weigh at least 150 lbs. and be 5'5" or taller.

 

Apheresis Donations

Special automated devices called Apheresis (a-fur-ee-sis) machines can separate blood into its components during the collection procedure.  Unlike a whole blood donation, during an apheresis donation the needed component, or a combination of components (such as platelets or plasma), can be collected and saved while the remaining components are returned to the donor.  The donor’s blood remains inside a sterile, disposable plastic bag at all times and is not exposed to any tubing or equipment that has been in contact with another donor's blood.  All apheresis donors must meet all routine donor eligibility criteria   Procedure: Whole blood is drawn from a donor's arm and channeled through the apheresis machine that separates and collects only the needed component(s).

 

For more information, visit www.carterbloodcare.org.