Double Red Cell Program Schedule an appointment: Phone: 800-398-7888 Email: schedule@psbc.org

Double Red Cell Program

You can play an important role in our community, making a difference in the lives of patients, and you can do it by making fewer visits to the Blood Center.

Double Red Cell is a new donor program that allows you to give enough red blood cells for two transfusions in a single visit through our apheresis (ay-fur-ee-sis) Double Red Cell Program. This donation results in twice as many red cells for patients and allows you more time in between appointments. And red cells are the component of blood in greatest demand by the hospitals and clinics we serve.

Blood is made up of three components: red blood cells, platelets and plasma. When you donate whole blood you are donating all three components at once. The apheresis process allows us to collect only red blood cells, while safely returning platelets and plasma back to you.

What are the requirements?
Apheresis red cell donors must be type O, type A negative or type B negative and meet the minimum blood volume requirements determined by height, weight and hematocrit (blood iron levels).

If you have further questions about the Double Red Cell Program, please see our FAQ or call us at
1-800-398-7888.

Schedule an Appointment
If you are interested in participating in the Double Red Cell Program or to schedule an appointment, please call 800-398-7888 or e-mail schedule@psbc.org.

Donating two units of apheresis red blood cells takes a little longer than a whole blood donation. The entire visit takes about 85 minutes from start to finish, so scheduling an appointment will ensure we are prepared when you arrive.

Frequently Asked Questions (View PDF Version)

• What is the Double Red Cell Program?
  If you are blood type O, type A negative or type B negative then you may be eligible to give enough red blood cells for two transfusions in a single visit through our apheresis (ay-fur-ee-sis) Double Red Cell Program. This donation results in twice as many red cells for patients and allows you more time in between appointments.
• What are red cells?
  Red cells deliver oxygen—vital to patients with severe blood loss or sickle cell anemia. Just one apheresis donation results in twice as many red cells as a typical whole blood donation.
• How does the process work?
  The apheresis process is simple: blood is drawn from the donor’s arm and the components are separated. Only the components being donated, in this case two units of red cells, are collected while the remaining components are safely returned to the donor.
• How long does it take?
  Only a few minutes longer than a typical blood donation. Scheduling an appointment ensures the equipment is ready when you arrive. The entire visit, from registration to refreshments, takes about 1 hour 25 minutes. You may watch television or movies, listen to music, read or simply sit back and relax while helping save a life.
• Are apheresis red cell donations safe?
  Yes. Each donation is closely supervised by trained staff. The amount of red cells collected does not compromise your health and the volume replacement (saline solution) helps replenish your fluids. New, sterile donation equipment (needle, tubing, collection bags) is used for each donor - it is virtually impossible to contract a disease from the process.
• What are the requirements?
  Apheresis red cell donors must be blood type O, type A negative or type B negative and meet minimum blood volume requirements determined by height, weight and hematocrit.
• Why do you need specific blood types?
  It takes donors of all blood types to maintain a stable community blood supply for patients. Currently we need type O, type A negative or type B negative donors to help meet the local demand for red blood cells. Donors of all blood types are needed to give apheresis platelets and whole blood. To schedule your next appointment or find out more information, please call 1-800-398-7888 or e-mail HYPERLINK "mailto:schedule@psbc.org" schedule@psbc.org.
• How often can I donate double red cells?
  Up to three times a year! You may donate apheresis red cells once every 16 weeks or 112 days compared to every 8 weeks or 56 days for whole blood donation. Overall this means more time in between appointments and fewer visits to the Blood Center.
• How soon after donating red cells can I give whole blood or platelets?
  For apheresis red cell donors the waiting period in between donations is 16 weeks or 112 days before the next whole blood, platelet or two unit red cell donation.
• Can I donate twice the amount of platelets?
  Yes, please! Because platelets can be stored for only five days, the need for platelet donations is vast and continuous. It does take longer to give your platelet donation (about two hours total), but we encourage all donors to stay a little longer and maximize their lifesaving efforts.
• Can I donate apheresis red cells at a blood drive?
  Currently this donor program is available only at our donor centers.
• How do two unit donation count towards my Tree of Life goal? Could l get on the Tree of Life faster?
  A two unit donation counts as two donations towards your donation total and could help you reach the Tree of Life 100 unit milestone faster.
• How can I become an apheresis red cell donor?
  For more information and appointments, call Puget Sound Blood Center (800) 398-7888. You may also ask our Donor Center staff for information about open appointments.