The American Red Cross Blood Services’ Implementation Of An Innovative Blood Collection Technology Will Allow Donors To Give Two Units Of Red Blood Cells From A Single Donation

Salt Lake City, UT-The American Red Cross Blood Services in Salt Lake City, UT, has adopted an innovative automated blood collection system that allows eligible donors to give two units of red blood cells instead of approximately one pint of whole blood. The process, which collects only the red blood cells and returns all other blood components to the donor, has received positive comments from donors and on average takes just 10 minutes longer than a typical donation of whole blood. 

“Relying on current manual collections alone, which collect one pint of whole blood, will not meet the demand for red blood cells without an influx of new donors,” said Julia Wulf, chief executive officer of the American Red Cross Lewis and Clark Region. “By obtaining two transfusion doses of red blood cells from a single donor, this automated technology increases the supply of critically needed red blood cells and maximizes the benefit donors can provide to patients. Recruiting more donors will still be critical, but using automated systems puts us in a better position to meet increasing blood supply needs.”

Before the institution of this new process, red blood cells were only collected through whole blood donations. In this approach, the whole blood is divided manually into therapeutic components after it has been collected from a donor resulting in a single transfusion dose of red blood cells. The new procedure will allow for the collection of two units of red blood cells. 

When asked about his double red blood cell donor experience, Cliff Sweet, a regular whole blood donor from Taylorsville, Utah, said, “It didn’t seem much different, just took a little bit longer.”  Asked how he feels about helping two patients with one donation and not having to donate as often, Sweet replied, “I don’t mind going in to donate but it is nice not to go as often and still help just as many patients.” 

Double red blood cell donations can be made at the American Red Cross donation center in Salt Lake City or at select sponsored mobile drives. Please call 1-800-GIVE LIFE to schedule your appointment.