Bethesda Blood Center Seeks Platelet Donors

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Dion Dawson, National Naval Medical Center Public Affairs

BETHESDA, Md. (NNS) -- The Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) held a blood drive Aug. 9 at the National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) in an effort to help save lives of military members.

The ASBP is constantly seeking blood and platelet donors. Platelets - small, colorless cells found in blood - are involved in clotting and can be donated through a process known as apheresis.

"Apheresis is a medical procedure that involves removing whole blood from a donor or patient and separating the blood into individual components so that one particular component can be removed," said Mary Lewis, supervisor of the Apheresis Department at NNMC. "After the platelets are collected, the remaining blood components then are re-introduced back into the bloodstream of the patient or donor."

"The need is there," said Lewis. "If you have a person who is bleeding from trauma, injuries sustained in combat or has a low platelet count from chemotherapy, it helps to stop bleeding. We continuously encourage platelet donation because platelets are good for five days, while blood is good for 42 days after it is donated, so we constantly need to increase our amount of platelet products due to the quickness of the expiration."

An individual can donate platelets every two weeks, up to 24 times a year, but when giving regular red blood, a person must wait eight weeks before donating again.

Lewis went on to explain the process of donating platelets.

"Before we prepare to extract platelets, we have to verify that the person's red cells, white cells and platelets are at a certain level to be able to donate," she stated. "After that, they will complete a questionnaire, travel form and initial interview. The requirements of the donor are similar to giving blood, but the collection process takes longer. While donating, the donor is attached to a machine that extracts blood, separates it, takes some plasma and platelets and gives everything else back. It is a continuous process that lasts between 60 to 90 minutes."

The amount of time the process takes also depends on the donor's height, weight, blood and platelet count.

"We need to continue to expand and increase our database of donors through word of mouth and support from the command," said Reynald Weidner, an apheresis technician at NNMC. "It gives me a good feeling knowing that the more supplies we have ready means more opportunities for patients to receive transfusion services that's needed."

Weidner said it's part of her job to sit down with the donors and explain the importance of giving and the people who benefit from the donation.

"My job involves platelet collection, recruiting donors and spreading it through word of mouth. It is more than just collecting the platelets. I always encourage people to donate," she added.

As supervisor, Lewis said she has a hand in everything related to the department, especially when it comes to making sure the department gets the platelet donors needed for patients at NNMC.

"It is the donor's responsibility to come to us healthy, not having taken any medications that we mentioned, stay hydrated and having eaten a calcium-rich diet the day before," she said. "The machine bonds with the calcium and allows the blood not to clot during the collection process. We have [an] appointment system set up, so that anyone interested in donating can go online and set up their own appointment."

Donors cannot take any aspirin 72 hours before donating and any non-steroidal medicine for 24 hours prior. For more information about the ASBP, visit militaryblood.dod.mil.