What We Do - Programs Information

About Automated Red Cell Donations (2RBC)
It's quick and simple!

The entire process takes just 10-15 minutes longer than a whole blood donation visit. Sit back, relax, and put your feet up-you'll be glad you did! This method of donating is designed to save you time by making fewer visits to the Community Blood Bank blood center. Now you can do in one visit what it would normally take two visits to do. Save time on paperwork, travel to and from the Community Blood Bank blood center, and the number of fingersticks and venipunctures!

How often can you do this procedure?

The maximum number of donations possible in a year are reduced from 6 to 3. Each time you do this procedure, you are donating 2 pints of blood instead of one and the interval between donations is 112 days instead of 56 days. Therefore, 3 donations of automated red blood cells still equals 6 pints of blood. And, the Community Blood Bank will honor your donations and give you credit for 2 pints every time you do the procedure.

Feel Better!

You should find this experience more comfortable than other blood donations because a smaller needle is used and you receive fluids back. Your plasma, which contains all of your vitamins, minerals, nutrients, and saline is returned to you. It's like an energy boost! You leave the blood center more hydrated than when you came in.

It's Safe!

It is similar to donating whole blood in that your blood is collected in a single-use disposable blood bag. Your blood never comes in contact with another person's blood. Even though a machine is used to separate the components, your blood never touches the
machine or anyone else's blood.

Help two patients!

Your automated red cell donation will result in two red cell transfusions to patients. This is a more concentrated and consistent product for patients.

What is an Automated Collection?

It is a donation process that allows you to donate only those blood components that are needed for transfusion with the rest of your blood immediately returned to you.

Over 60% of all transfusions are red cells. Now you can donate just red cells instead of whole blood. This allows the blood center to collect more red cells (less total volume) from an ever-shrinking number of eligible donors - maximizing your gift of life.

Automated Red Cell Collections separate red cells and plasma while your blood is being drawn, unlike whole blood donations where blood components are separated much later in laboratories, involving manual and time-consuming secondary handling increasing the time taken for your blood to reach the patients. Remember, even though a machine is used to separate components, your blood never comes in contact with that machine or anyone else's blood.

Who should make an automated red cell donation?

The Community Blood Bank is offering this donation to donors whose blood types are in the most demand by our hospitals or the most difficult to provide in adequate quantities. Blood type preferences for these procedures may vary depending on local hospital transfusion demands.

Are there any special requirements for making an automated donation?

Yes. Donors must meet certain weight and height requirements.

Males: Minimum 130 lbs and 5"1" tall
Females: Minimum 150 lbs and 5'5" tall

Iron Level: For both men and women the hemoglobin level must be 13.3 or 40%

Donation Interval: 112 days or 16 weeks (versus 56 days or 8 weeks for a whole blood donation)

Programs:

2RBC

Platelet Apheresis

O Neg Club

4 Life Program