Why Donate "Double Red"?

[Kardinal]

I just got back from donating. I'm a double red donor in the USA, donate through a local hospital chain, INOVA. Good people, good place.

They seem to be very excited about me donating double red. But I don't understand why. I asked them for an explanation, and they really didn't give one that satisfies.

From what they explained, and from what I understand, whole blood is not used directly; it is seperated into platelets, plasma, and red blood. So when someone donates twice in 16 weeks (as we can in the USA), they get:

2 unit2 of red.
2 unit2 of platelets.
2 unit2 of plasma.

On the other hand, when I donate once, apheresis, double reds, in that 16 weeks, they get:

2 units of red.

That's all.

So why is my double red donation better than giving whole blood twice?

[Shan Xue]

to the blood bank, they just need to put in one needle to get the equivalent of red blood cells in 2 whole blood donation. it is also easier for them to get people to come in at 16 weeks interval than 8 weeks interval as some people cannot routinely give blood every eight weeks, but like to give blood once or twice a year. Donors receive double credit for each double red cell donation. in times of emergenies, they need to recruit 1/2 of number of donors to get the stock required. it reduces the number of phone calls that blood bank have to make.

Reference:




Advantages for Donors
There are many advantages to the Double Red Cell collection program, both for the donor and for the patient. A double red cell donation takes about 45 minutes to complete, compared to about 10 minutes for a regular blood donation. However, the waiting period between donations is 16 weeks, rather than 8 weeks for a regular donation. This makes the Double Red Cell Program ideal for donors who cannot routinely give blood every eight weeks, but like to give blood once or twice a year. They can give the same number of blood products with only half the number of trips to the blood center.
Benefits for Patients
Patients also benefit from a double red cell product by receiving two units from the same donor, reducing exposure to multiple donors which can sometimes cause post-transfusion complications.
A Boost to the Blood Supply
The final advantage is to the blood supply. Red Cross often has shortages of certain types of red blood cells, especially type O and type B. Double red cell collections allow us to get two red blood cells from an O or B donor, greatly incresing our ability to supply hospital and patient needs for these types. And in areas where the donor population is limited, this technology allows us to maximize the impact of donations made.
http://www.newenglandblood.org/double.htm (http://www.newenglandblood.org/double.htm)





Advantages

Donating double red cells has several advantages (http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=advantages) over whole blood donation:

A smaller (http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=smaller) needle is used, which may be more comfortable (http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=comfortable) for some people (http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=people).
Fluid (http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=Fluid) replacement means that many people feel better afterward (http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=feel%20better%20afterward) than when donating whole blood.
Your donation will be able to help twice as many patients.Requirements

Donating double red cells will take about 30 minutes longer (http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=longer) than a whole blood donation. In addition (http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=addition), there are several requirements that must be met:

Men (http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=Men) must weigh a minimum (http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=minimum) of 130 pounds (http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=pound) (59 kg (http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=kilogram)) and be 5'1" (1.55 m (http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=metre)) tall.
Women (http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=Women) must weigh (http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=weigh) at least 150 pounds (68 kg) and be 5'5" (1.65 m).
The iron (http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=iron) content (hematocrit (http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=hematocrit)) of your blood must be at least 40%.Another difference is that after donating double red cells, you will have to wait 16 weeks (http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=weeks) to donate again, as compared to eight for whole blood donation. However, this reduces your number of visits (http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=visit) to the blood center, and the number of phone calls (http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=a%20chorus%20of%20phones%20each%20ti me%20she%20calls) they have to make. Everybody wins (http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=everybody%27s%20a%20winner)!
http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1478808 (http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1478808)





Here are several things to consider:

Regular blood donors can give more blood at your drives and they can donate less frequently.
Donors and sponsors receive double credit for each double red cell donation.
Small and large organizations can almost double their contribution, without increasing their base of donors.
Donors AND sponsors can help more patients and prevent community blood shortages of the most needed blood types (O and B).
Double red cell donations use a smaller needle than regular whole blood donations, which helps to recruit needle-shy people.
When donating double red cells, donors receive fluid replacement, and greater hydration helps them feel more comfortable during and after the donation process.http://www.donatebloodnow.org/SponsorDrive/doublered.asp (http://www.donatebloodnow.org/SponsorDrive/doublered.asp)

[DrStoooopid]

I'm a double red donor in the US, I'll also give you some insight to double red proceedures.

1. If you're donating double reds, let's say you have a rare blood type, or are O- CMV- like myself. If a patient needs more than one unit, you reduce the risk of recipient reaction if they're getting multiple units from the same donor.

2. It's good for infrequent donors. (i.e. people who can't always make it every 56 days).

3. You get your fluids back.

4. You don't have to do it as often.

The downside:

1. Once you donate 2RBC (double reds), you can't donate for anything until the 112 days is expired..(that means platelets, plasma, granulocytes, whole blood...anything)...the only exception is a doctor ordered limited exposure.

2. You can't do it as often.