My good experience

[Shan Xue]

Today is Sat 22 Mar 08. There are more donors on Sat than any other day and I saw a new display that says waiting time is 1 hour. Fortunately, I had booked my apheresis appointment and didn't have to wait to see the doctor :) That's the advantage of booking appointment. One can book appointment online with the Singpass for whole blood donation as well.

When I went to the apheresis suite, I requested to use the faster machine and I was told I have to wait about 30 minutes as it was being in use. Since the faster machine is about 30 minutes faster than the slow machine, I opted to wait. I didn't mind as I brought a book along to read.

As usual, I asked the nurse not to apply the local anethesia (LA). The nurse was very skillful in inserting the tube into my vein. No discomfort or hardly any pain despite no LA. I must say not all nurses are as skillful as this nurse. Usually without applying LA will experience some pain.

Though the platelet donation process took more than an hour, I didn't feel it is long because I was absorbed reading the book. Most donors prefer to watch the free movies provided.

After donation, I just rest at the refreshment area. I drank plain water and close my eyes. I can sense when I am safe to go by the feeling in my head. I had occassions whereby I almost fainted on the MRT without a proper rest immediately after donation. Fortunately during those instances, I quickly alighted on the nearest station and put my head between my knees to allow more blood to flow to my head.

I am grateful that I am healthy and able to donate to help others. Blood donation has become easier and more enjoyable with each donation :)

[teckheng]

I am a blood donors and been using online appointment for my past 3 visits and it really speeds up alot.

Shan Xue, what is a Apheresis? Why is there a faster machine ?

Normally I only asked left or right handed and will have a nurse to do the job.

Pardon me, is blood donation diff from platelet ? Can I donate blood and platelet together ? What is the waiting period ? Who benefit from blood and platelet ?

Thanks in advance.

[Shan Xue]

teckheng,

Apheresis is a process whereby only plasma or platelet or both are extracted from whole blood while the rest is returned back to the donor. The amount of platelet or plasma collected through apheresis is about 6 times that collected from whole blood donation. Since there is hardly any loss of red blood cells and hemoglobin, apheresis donation can be every 4 weeks, compared to 12 weeks for whole blood donation.

You can't donate whole blood and platelet together. If you alternate beween whole blood donation and apheresis donation, you can refer to the interval listed at
http://www.hsa.gov.sg/publish/hsaportal/en/health_services/blood_donation/can_i_donate/donation_interval.html (http://www.hsa.gov.sg/publish/hsaportal/en/health_services/blood_donation/can_i_donate/donation_interval.html)


Whole blood can be processed to red blood cells, platelets and plasma, or use as whole. Whole blood and red blood cells is used for surgery for loss of blood and anemia. Platelet is used for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, as well as patients with low platelet count due to malaria. Plasma is used for burnt patients.

The blood bank has three different types of machines for platelet donation. Depending on the donor's vein size, the nurses will assign a suitable machine. The slowest machine can take about 2 hours to complete while the fastest machine can complete in about 1 hour. The three machines are of different models and uses different technology.