Children with low platelet counts are subject to serious bleeding problems because of their inability to clot blood. Platelets are donated through a process called plateletpheresis. The Apheresis Donor Center enables family members, who generally provide good blood matches, to be donors for a patient or to bring in donors of their choice. The same donors can donate platelets repeatedly to one child. By limiting the patient's exposure to numerous donors, the risk of transfusion-associated infections is greatly reduced.
Plateletpheresis is a process similar to donating blood, with a few exceptions.
During plateletpheresis, whole blood is withdrawn into a centrifuge bowl or bag located in a computer- equipped blood cell separator machine instead of directly removing whole blood to a bag. This machine automatically separates the platelets from other blood cells, such as red blood cells, and collects them in an attached bag. The remaining blood returns through the tubing and back into the donor's arm. A registered nurse, specially trained in apheresis, collects the platelet product and is available throughout the procedure. The donor's platelet count, although reduced temporarily, is still within the normal range and will return to its original number in a few days.