Automated Donations

Who Is Eligible To Donate?

There are two basic donation types available. An RBCP donation collects one unit of red cells and one unit of plasma. The second donation type collects two units of red cells and is called 2RBC or double red cell protocol.

Donors All donors who are eligible to donate blood for their own surgery are able to donate RBCP.

The 2RBC donation collects a total blood volume of approximately 420 mls, which is less volume than is collected from a whole blood donor.

Since we are collecting a higher percentage of red cells, there are specific eligibility standards for 2RBC donors, The eligibility requirements include height, weight, and hematocrit. In order to donate the donor must meet all three requirements: height, weight, and hematocrit. The hematocrit requirement is the same for all donors. The height and weight requirements differ for men and women. The minimum requirements are:

2RBC Eligibility
Requirements
  Male Female
Height 5'1" 5'5"
Weight 130 150
Hematocrit 40% 40%

Safety Information

This section is designed to answer procedure safety questions you may have. More detailed information and references are available on request.

Question 1: Compared to WB donation, what is the relative safety of automated RBC procedures?

Response: Compared to WB donation the relative safety of automated RBC procedures is equivalent to or safer than the WB procedure.

Question 2: Compared to WB donation, what exercise levels can automated donors tolerate, especially 2RBC donors?

Donate Response: There is no difference in exercise tolerance to 2RBC donation compared to WB donation. Changes in heart rate and blood pressure are no different in donors giving two units of red cells versus those giving one unit of red cells (RBCP and WB). High levels of aerobic activities (those exercises that achieve a maximum heart rate) are not recommended for either 2RBC, RBCP or WB donors on the day of donation (post-donation).

Question 3: Do donors giving 2RBC risk becoming iron deficient?

Response: Years of blood banking industry experience with blood donations have shown that blood donors in general do not become iron deficient. 2RBC donors have no greater risk of iron deficiency, because the waiting period between 2-unit RBC donations is twice as long as the waiting period between 1-unit donations.

Question 4: Aren't reactions more frequent with 2RBC donations?

Response: Several years of blood banking industry experience have shown that the reaction rates are the same or lower than those for WB donors, even in first time donors. Recent studies have shown that the moderate to severe reaction rate is significantly lower.

Source:
2RBC Safety FAQ, Haemonetics. 2002

The basic collection process is simple. Each donation is collected using a pre-packaged, sterile, disposable kit.

The double red cell procedure (2RBC) takes about 35-45 minutes.

The red blood cell plasma procedure (RBCP) takes about 30 minutes.

BENEFITS OF AUTOMATED DONATION

Help more patients
You help more patients because your donation will result in either two units of red cells or a red cell/plasma combination.

You feel better
You should find the donation experience more comfortable than other blood donations because a smaller needle is used and fluids are returned to you to keep you hydrated.

It's safe
The procedure is similar to a whole blood donation in that your blood is collected through a unique process in a single-use disposable blood bag. Your blood never touches the equipment or anyone else's blood.

It's proven
Blood components have been collected this way for more than 20 years. More than 13 million automated donations are safely made this way every year.