Our Blood Donor Center located at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester offers several types of blood donation services to meet the needs of patients at UMass Memorial.
Platelet Donation (plateletpheresis)
Since each unit of whole blood contains only small amounts of platelets, it would take six to eight donors to supply enough platelets for one patient. Through platelet donation (plateletpheresis), however, a single donor can provide a sufficient dose of platelets for transfusion. This blood component may be needed by more patients than any other blood product. Our challenge is to increase the number of plateletpheresis donors since we need to replenish the supply continuously.
Platelet donation takes 80 minutes and can be done every two weeks.
Whole Blood Donation
One pint of blood is drawn during the donation. Whole blood donation takes about 10 minutes, but donors should plan on 35 minutes for the visit. Whole blood donation can be done every eight weeks.
Autologous Donation
Patients scheduled to come to UMass Memorial Medical Center for surgery can donate their own blood ahead of time should a transfusion be required during surgery.
When patients donate their own blood, they are getting the most compatible blood so there is no risk of allergic reactions, and there is a decreased risk of infectious complications. Patients in relatively good health with a few exceptions can donate blood for their own surgery.
The patient's physician must send orders to the Blood Donor Center prior to the patient scheduling an appointment. Once orders are received, the patient can schedule the appointment by calling 508-421-1950.