If you decide to donate blood, you may be a candidate for Automated Red Cell donation, also referred to as "double red cell donation." This process of collecting red blood cells allows a donor to give twice as many red blood cells as a typical donation would collect. This is a great option if you are not able to come to the donor center often, but you want to make your donation go twice as far when you donate.
Red Cells
Red Cells carry hemoglobin and oxygen in our bodies. Anemic patients, and transplant or heart surgery patients need red cells, often in multiple units. Over 37,000 units of red cells are transfused here each year.
Apheresis
An Automated Red Cell donation (also referred to at 2RBC) is collected by apheresis. Apheresis is a process that allows you to donate only the blood components that are needed for transfusion (in this case red blood cells); the rest of the blood is returned to you. This volume replacement helps donors feel comfortable post-donation. Each donation is performed using donation material that is used once and then discarded. The process takes slightly longer (30-40 minutes) than a whole blood donation.
2RBC Eligibility
You are eligible to donate only 3 times per year or every 112 days, which is double the deferral period for a regular whole blood donation. Other considerations include:
- Males: Minimum of 130 lbs. and 5’1' in height
- Females: Minimum of 150 lbs. 5’5' in height
- Iron Level: For both men and women, the iron level must be 13.3 or 40%
- Donation Interval: 112 days or 16 weeks (versus 56 days for a whole blood donation)
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