Platelets

[ellid]

I'll be doing my first platelet donation at Baystate Medical Center on St. Patrick's Day at 6:00 pm. The donation coordinator at Baystate told me that CMV negative platelets are "like gold" because they're the only ones that can be used for infants and people with compromised immune systems, like patients with cancer and AIDS. Given this, I'm going to see about setting up a schedule for every two or three weeks in the evening because, y'know, it's just the right thing to do.

Comments

[alphasarah.livejournal.com]

Or, you know, micropreemies.

So THANK YOU. I'm glad that Baystate can take your donations!

[ellid.livejournal.com]

I was thinking of TRex, actually. If I'd known then what I know now, of course I would have been down at Baystate with my sleeve rolled up.

[alphasarah.livejournal.com]

She actually never got pure platelets, but your whole blood would also be the only sort that micros can get, too.

[ellid.livejournal.com]

What's her blood type? I'm A+, not sure of the sub type.

[alphasarah.livejournal.com]

She is O-pos. So you wouldn't have been a match. :^)

[hak42.livejournal.com]

That's excellent! :)

I need to try to give blood again. The blood drives around here tend to fall at a time when I am anemic and unable to give. :(

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

Good for you. I have to admit I have never given blood because since realising that I could use anaesthetic for the needle I have never medically qualified. Hopefully one day I'll find a window!

[tena524.livejournal.com]

I don't think it will be quite that often. A regular blood donation can be done every 8 weeks up to a max of 6 per year. I think the timing for platelets is every 16 weeks.
I'm O neg, so the local Red Cross donor center calls me every 8 weeks.

Ironically, we had a blood drive at school yesterday, and I couldn't donate because it was four weeks off my schedule...

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Nope, it's more like every sixteen *days*. You're allowed donate platelets 24 times a year, whole blood every two months.

[tekalynn.livejournal.com]

That's awesome. *hug*

Thank you so much for doing this.