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MacRumors 2019 Blood Drive!

7thson said:
Just about done donating a triple of platelets.
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Hi 7thson. I'm interested in how different countries measure platelet donations and see that you did a triple. When I do a double platelet in Australia, it takes me ~90 minutes, but I can't recall the volume. (...for a single plasma donation today, it was 757ml with a saline return at the end) Just wondering how long a triple takes, as I'd be knackered if it was going to take 135 minutes ;-)
 
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chaleyer said:
Hi 7thson. I'm interested in how different countries measure platelet donations and see that you did a triple. When I do a double platelet in Australia, it takes me ~90 minutes, but I can't recall the volume. (...for a single plasma donation today, it was 757ml with a saline return at the end) Just wondering how long a triple takes, as I'd be knackered if it was going to take 135 minutes ;-)
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I don't recall a triple taking longer than 2 hours, but it depends on the donor. I was told there are donors that can do a triple in 90 minutes, due to their being young and athletic, I suppose. Maybe @Doctor Q could weigh in?
 
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At the donation center I visit most often, a typical platelet donation (the time you are actually in the chair) takes
  • 45 to 60 minutes for 1 unit of platelets
  • 1 hour to 1.5 hours for 2 units of platelets
  • 2 hours to 2.5 hours for 3 units of platelets
but that can vary depending on the donor's blood volume, blood pressure, and level of hydration, since these all affect the flow speed.

The total appointment takes longer because it includes the interview and recovery time.
 
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Today is world blood donor day. Go out and donate if you can.
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chaleyer said:
Hi 7thson. I'm interested in how different countries measure platelet donations and see that you did a triple. When I do a double platelet in Australia, it takes me ~90 minutes, but I can't recall the volume. (...for a single plasma donation today, it was 757ml with a saline return at the end) Just wondering how long a triple takes, as I'd be knackered if it was going to take 135 minutes ;-)
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Just come from a whole blood donation for a change.
Sydney Town Hall centre where the staff are all fabulous.
That takes to me to a total of 133 donations overall and looking forward to hitting 150 possibly by the end of 2020.
 
Just got this email from the American Red Cross:

We need your help more than ever.


As the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to impact our communities, we need your help ensuring we have a sufficient blood supply to support hospital patients in our state and across the country. The American Red Cross is working to continue delivering our mission, including the collection of lifesaving blood, but we have had a staggering number of scheduled Red Cross blood drives cancelled as more workplaces, college campuses and other venues send people home and encourage social distancing. Disruptions to blood donations can lead to shortages and cause delays in essential medical care. Thousands of blood drives have been cancelled nationwide already. These donations are vital for our hospitals to continue having surgeries, providing lifesaving blood to cancer patients and many others.
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Because in my childhood I had a blood transfusion and leukemia, I am ineligible to donate blood. If anyone is willing and able to donate blood during these difficult times please consider doing so. Your donation may make a life saving difference!
 
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Canadian Blood Services (CBS) is reporting a drastic reduction in donations. During a mid-week press conference, Prime Minister Trudeau spent about two minutes talking about the need to keep donation appointments. If you are not showing COVID-19 symptoms, keep your donation appointments. If you haven’t donated in a while, make an appointment now. Donation Centres are a place of wellness during this crisis.
 
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i think people got the message, it was very booked up when I went to make an appointment. I was able to donate on the 25th and got a buddy to come for their first ever donation.
 
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Blood centers are taking fewer appointments to increase social distancing. The local blood banks (SF Bay Area) are telling people to avoid drop-in visits.
 
barbu said:
i think people got the message, it was very booked up when I went to make an appointment. I was able to donate on the 25th and got a buddy to come for their first ever donation.
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That was a great thing to do, and sorely needed.

Please record both donations on our Team page. Even though the page says PLEDGE TO GIVE BLOOD, we use it simply to tally donations that have already been made.
 
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My local donation center was listed for walk-ins only yesterday. As it turns out, that was because all the appointment slots were filled, and seem to be for the next 2 weeks as it's listed as walk-in only for every day I checked. They wouldn't take me (after I drove 30 minutes to get there thinking I could walk in) because they were short-staffed. Guess I'll have to take my chances as a walk-in next Saturday but I'll have to go earlier in the day...
 
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Doctor Q, two members of my various teams have a mild form of the coronavirus. They plan on giving plasma after they are well because of the antibodies' properties. Will that count as one donation each of them?
 
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OverSpun said:
I am glad this drive is still going on. 👍
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At this point it seems perpetual.

I go for attempt #2 to donate at the local donation center this round. If I don't get in I might have to schedule on 4/23 when a local TV station is running a drive. I don't think there are many public drives going anymore, that makes openings at the places taking donations quite hard to come by. That's not a bad thing - the need is great still...
 
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To update the thread (I posted my donation to the SleevesUp link already, and messaged Doctor Q) I was able to donate today. I looked at my phone just after the stick and as they were pulling the test tubes - 6 minutes.
 
Doctor Q, a short while ago I informed you, two members of our, different teams had tested positive for COVID-19 and they wanted to know if they could donate plasma. Apparently they can't, both were turned away because of some antiquated rule. Do you have information concerning this?
 
JamesMike said:
Doctor Q, a short while ago I informed you, two members of our, different teams had tested positive for COVID-19 and they wanted to know if they could donate plasma. Apparently they can't, both were turned away because of some antiquated rule. Do you have information concerning this?
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Tests are being performed, at various places around the U.S. and in other countries, to see if plasma, donated by a patient who has recovered from COVID-19, will help the recovery of someone else with COVID-19. The theory is that the donors will have built up COVID-19 antibodies that will protect them from reinfection, and that these antibodies can help other infected patients battle the virus. This technique has had only partial success with viruses from past pandemics, so it's not clear what the experiments will show. It's certainly promising, and there aren't many other options for people with the disease.

It's called convalescent plasma and this type of therapy is not yet approved by the FDA. The FDA is instead providing guidelines, and many centers are collecting the plasma in case it can help patients, especially the most severely ill patients.

Plasma isn't routinely collected if a patient has the virus, but people (including your team members) who have gotten COVID-19 may qualify to donate plasma at certain donation centers after their symptoms are gone. They must have fully recovered before it would be considered, and only if they meet a center's specific qualifications.

Examples:
Red Cross convalescent plasma donors who have had COVID-19 must be symptom-free for 28 days and donors who had a negative COVID-19 test must be symptom-free for 14 days. They aren't accepting donors who are symptom-free but have not had a COVID-19 test, and they are not providing such tests. As a result, convalescent plasma donations will be limited until more widespread testing is available. But I encourage anyone who has passed a COVID-19 test to consider donating plasma.
 
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