Since the majority of patients are treated with only one particular blood component, an apheresis donation is more efficient and beneficial to the donor.
Apheresis allows a single donor to provide more of the single component needed by a patient.
By reducing the number of donors needed to meet a patient's need, the chances of a patient reaction or rejection are decreased. The apheresis process is much like donating whole blood, except that the components are separated during the donation procedure. Donors go through the same process as with a whole blood donation, except the procedure takes a little longer. Apheresis utilizes a computerized cell separator, which safely and automatically removes a specific component, and returns the remaining components to the donor. While donating with apheresis technology takes a little longer than a whole blood donation, it is just as safe and comfortable.