Types of Blood Donations

Based on your blood type and current patient needs, Shepeard will guide you toward the most impactful donation type, making the best use of your generous gift. Here’s what to consider when deciding how you can make the biggest impact in your local community.

Whole Blood Donation

Whole blood is the most versatile type of donation. It can be given to patients in its original form or separated into red blood cells, plasma, and platelets to help multiple people in different ways. Learn more about the components of blood.

Who it helps: Trauma and surgical patients
Time: Less than 1 hour
Ideal donation for: All blood types
How often: Every 56 days, up to 6 times per year

Champion Red Donation

A Champion Red donation allows you to give a concentrated dose of red blood cells, the component most often used for patients needing transfusions. Using an automated process, your red blood cells are collected while your plasma and platelets are safely returned to your body, making for a more comfortable donation experience.

Who it helps: Trauma patients, newborns, mothers during childbirth emergencies, sickle cell anemia patients, and others experiencing significant blood loss
Time: About 1.5 hours
Ideal donation for: O positive, O negative, A negative, and B negative blood types
How often: Every 112 days, up to 3 times per year

Platelet Donation

Platelets are tiny cell fragments in your blood that help stop bleeding by forming clots. They are essential for patients undergoing cancer treatment, organ transplants, and major surgeries. Platelets have the shortest shelf life of only 5 days, making regular donations essential to maintain a steady, reliable supply for patients in need.

Who it helps: Cancer patients, individuals with chronic blood disorders, and those undergoing major surgeries such as bone marrow and organ transplants.
Time: About 2 hours
Ideal donation for: A positive, A negative, B positive, O positive, AB positive, and AB negative
How often: Every 14 days, up to 24 times per year

Plasma Donation

Plasma assists with blood clotting and is collected through an automated process, similar to Champion Red and platelet donations. Your plasma is separated from the other components while the remaining components are safely returned to you. If you have AB blood type, your plasma is extra special. It can be given to patients of any blood type.

Who it helps: Burn patients, trauma patients, individuals with clotting disorders, and those undergoing major surgeries such as organ transplants.
Time: About 1 hour and 15 minutes
Ideal donation for: AB positive and AB negative
How often: Every 28 days, up to 13 times per year

More on Automated Donations

Automated donation, also known as apheresis, is a more targeted way to give. Using advanced machines like the Trima, Amicus, and Alyx, we can collect specific blood components, such as red blood cells, plasma, or platelets, based on your blood type and what local patients need most. These machines separate your blood, keep only the selected component(s), and return the rest to you through the same arm, along with fluids to help keep you comfortable and hydrated.

While automated donations take a bit longer than whole blood donations, they allow you time to relax and make a greater impact. For example, one platelet donation can provide as many platelets as eight or more whole blood donations.

Depending on your blood type, you may also be eligible to donate more than one component, such as platelets and red cells, platelets and plasma, or red cells and plasma. When combining components, your donation frequency is based on the longest required deferral. For example, if you donate platelets and plasma, you would be eligible to donate again in 28 days.

Your Blood. Your Impact.

All blood types are valuable.

Based on your blood type and local patient needs, we can help you maximize your impact through blood donation.