"Directed donation" refers to giving blood to a family member, friend, or other specific patient. The donor must fulfill the same conditions as for conventional blood donations, and the donor's blood type must match the recipient's blood type. Platelet donors can give up to 12 units of platelets per collection; leukocyte (white blood cell) donors can give up to 10 times their weight in grams in one session. Family members can be important sources of blood for each other when they are recovering from surgeries or illnesses that require a large number of blood cells. Directed donations make valuable resources available for these patients who might not have found another way to meet their needs. Donating platelets is an excellent way to help others while gaining some free time. Platelets can be used immediately after they are collected or frozen until needed. Recipients of directed donations may need more platelets because they are undergoing treatment or recovery from an operation or illness. Most hospitals will accept platelet donations through their donor centers. You can find out if your hospital does by asking. If it doesn't, many private blood banks do. You can also contact these organizations directly to see if they can refer you to a hospital that does. Platelets cannot be transported over long distances so the donor site must be convenient for the donor.