Your local American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization, led by volunteers and dedicated staff providing Blood and Blood Products to sick and injured people in our local hospitals and medical centers throughout South Florida. The local Red Cross, is one of a network of more than 1,400 Red Cross Chapters and Biomedical services nationwide. Programs and services have been made possible by local volunteer contributions of time and financial support. We also service many clinics and dialysis centers as well. Platelets are the clotting factor in blood.
Healthy people have a surplus of platelets.
The body continuously regenerates platelets. Donated platelets have to be used within 5 days. A Person can donate platelets every two weeks, or up to 24 times a year. Many patients depend on regular platelet transfusions. Platelets are collected through a process called apheresis.