Apheresis Program

What Is Apheresis?
Apheresis (a-fer-EE-sis) is a type of blood donation. Instead of whole blood, the donor gives only a certain blood component.

What's It Like?
Apheresis feels much like a whole blood donation. The blood is taken from one arm and channeled through a sterile, disposable kit that is placed in a special machine.

The machine separates the blood into different components, the needed part is taken out, and the rest of the blood is returned to the donor.

How Does Apheresis Help Patients?
Platelets are tiny cells which prevent bleeding. People with certain blood disorders may not be able to produce healthy platelets of their own.

While chemotherapy kills cancer cells, it also destroys platelets. Apheresis donations provide the components many patients depend on for their very lives.

Your apheresis donations are needed by:

• patients who experience trauma
• patients who experience bleeding during surgery
• patients with aplastic anemia
• transplant recipients
• patients with leukemia
• patients receiving treatment for cancer

Apheresis donors must meet the same donor eligibility guidelines as whole blood donors. Now, in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee, 16 year olds can donate with parental consent. Donors must weigh a minimum of 110 lbs. and be in good general health.

Where Can I Become an Apheresis Donor?

Apheresis donors can donate at downtown Chattanooga, Cartersville, East Brainerd, Cookeville, Tullahoma or Rome or on the Platelet Patrol. Click to learn more about the Platelet Patrol.