Changing of blood donation to Plateletpheresis enquiry

[nghocksiang]

Hi

My blood gp is B+. From the website that Plateletpheresis is preferred. Would like to know how can i change to Plateletpheresis?

Is there any test which i need to undergo before knowing that i am suitable?

Can i still donate whole blood after that or i can only remain as Plateletpheresis?

Will our platelet level in our blood be told to me?

Is there a level when the platelet fall below we will not not suitable just like HB in blood

[Shan Xue]

The reason why B+ should donate platelets is because B+ is the only blood group meeting the target whole blood collections. Don't understand why .. :? More people with B+ blood should donate platelets.


To change to Plateletpheresis, go to the apheresis center (next to the whole blood donation room) and ask the nurse to screen your veins for suitability. You need to have prominent and thick vein on at least one arm. If you pass the test, then inform the reception counter in the main hall to enable you to book platelet appointment in future. Otherwise, you can only book whole blood appointment through the internet.

Of course, you can still donate whole blood in future. After donating platelets, you can donate whole blood or platelets after 4 weeks. However, after you donate whole blood, you can only donate platelets after 12 weeks except for the first time platelet donation. if i remember correctly, you can donate platelets 2 weeks after whole blood donation if it is your first time donating platelets. If you stick to platelet donation, you can donate platelets every 4 weeks.

Yes, you can ask the nurse for your platelet count.

If your platelet count is too low, you will be asked not to donate platelets.

[puahph]

Hi

are female donar allowed to donate platelets or plasma? i only see male donors there.

tks!

[Shan Xue]

female donors are allowed to donate plasma or platelets if they weigh at least 50/52 kg and have prominent and thick veins on at least one forearm. you can approach a nurse at the apheresis center to check whether your veins are suitable.

i have seen female apheresis donor at the blood bank and SGH but they are rare.

Criteria for donating plasma/platelets at HSA blood bank


Who can be a plateletpheresis donor?
Any healthy person who can donate whole blood can become a plateletpheresis donor if he / she meets the special requirements for pheresis.

Who can be a plasmapheresis donor?
Any healthy person who meets the medical criteria for whole blood donation and the special conditional requirements for plasmapheresis.

http://www.hsa.gov.sg/html/consumer/ctm_apheresis_donation.html
The special requirements for donating plasma/platelets is not indicated at HSA website. However, it should be the same as the criteria for donating at NUH blood bank as the two are linked.

Criteria for donating plasma/platelets at NUH blood bank

Any person aged between 18 - 55 years old
Compatible blood group
Weigh of at least 52kg
In good health and not on long term medicine
Citizens or must hold work permit or has been staying in Singapore for at least 6 months
Must not have lived in or visited United Kingdom for more than 3 months between year 1980 - 1996
Must not have lived in Europe for more than 5 years from 1980 to the present.
Have good prominent veins on the arms
http://www.tci.nhg.com.sg/support_tci_donation.htm

Criteria for donating platelets at SGH

How do I become a platelets donor?
To be a platelets donor, you will first need to go through screening. You must:

. Be between 18 to 45 years old.
· Weigh at least 50kg.
· Be in good health and not been on any medication (eg antibiotics, aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs) for the last 72 hours.
· Have a good prominent veins on both forearms that can hold up against the suction of the blood separator machine. For this reason, male donors are preferred.
· Go through a medical screening.
http://www.sgh.com.sg/MedicalSpecialtiesnServices/ClinicalSpecialties/Medical/Haematology/haem6.htm



Only prominent vein on one forearm is required. last time the machine uses both arms. now only use one arm.

[puahph]

jus to update that i have managed to pass the check on my veins & donated plasma & platelet once. :D going for my 2nd this week.

[Shan Xue]

nice to hear that. you must be a superwoman :D

you can also alternate between whole blood donation and platelet/plasma donation, according to the interval listed at

http://www.hsa.gov.sg/html/ctm/preferred_donation.html

for myself, i try to donate two times platelets, followed by whole blood, then back to donate platelets, in that cycle. this is taking into consideration that the blood bank's first choice for O+ donors is whole blood, followed by platelet donation. if your blood group is B+, then blood bank prefer you to donate platelets over whole blood.

[yingco]

Just interested to know. One of the blood donation restrictions included travel to UK
Must not have lived in or visited United Kingdom for more than 3 months between year 1980 - 1996 I am baffled about this constraint. Seem like hospitals in other countries has the same restriction as well. Why is it so? Can the Britains donate in their own country, or do they import from other places?

[Shan Xue]

this is because of mad cow disease.

in UK, the criteria is different. Only those who had a blood transfusion in the UK since 1980 is to be banned from donating blood. see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3515626.stm

[Raymond Tan]

Hi Shan Xue,

Is this the last posting from you? I was just wondering why!!

Hope everything is alright.


Cheers,

Raymond.

[Shan Xue]

Hi Raymond,

The forum has been quiet for quite a while.

No new questions or discussions. I can't be talking to myself, right? :p

We need more people like you to bring the forum alive again ;)

Cheers,
Shan Xue

[Raymond Tan]

Hi Shan Xue,

I have only quite recently been able to visit this website and have read quite a number of the forums and your replies. You seem to be quite an authority with regards to blood donations.

I am glad that there is this website and my wish is that there could be more people who will come forward and be regular blood donors.

My feeling on this is that the blood bank's operating hours should be 'irregular' so that more people working regular hours will be able to come and donate. I am sure that quite a large majority of regulars are people who work irregular hours. Like myself, I have been quite lucky that I have been able to donate regularly because my working hours have always been 'irregular' and I had very understanding employers who were willing to give me time-off for my blood donations.

The one major problem with this irregular operating hours will be finding the staff needed to run the centre. I am sure that the 2 nights that the centre is open right now must be quite popular.

The authorities should really look into various ways to help increase the pool of regular donors now that it is on strictly voluntary basis.

[Shan Xue]

Hi Raymond,

I have sent your feedback to the blood bank.

Your point is particularly valid for apheresis donations. Appointments are hard to get on Sat and weekday operating hours clashed with regular working hours. For whole blood donors, at least they can donate before 630pm from Tues-Thurs, extended hours on Fri and on weekends.

Singapore red cross is actively looking into various ways to help increase the pool of regular donors. Last time, 1% of population donate, now it is 1.5%. I am sure they will welcome any suggestion to increase the pool of regular donors :)

Shan Xue

[laine]

Hi Shan Xue and Raymond,

Thanks for your feedback :) Below is the reply from Bloodbank:

Hi Elaine,

My reply below:

The opening hours of the Bloodbank@HSA was revised 2 years ago in view of changing patterns of blood donors' donating habits to weekends and late
weekday evenings. We are constantly reviewing our opening hours to make it more convenient and accessible for our donors to donate blood and we thank Raymond for his feedback.

Regards

Koh Geok Tin | Head | Blood Programme Support | Centre for Transfusion
Medicine I Health Services Group
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