Lifeflow Donors

No! There is no substitute for blood. It cannot be made or manufactured. Voluntary blood donors are the only source of blood for patients in need of a blood transfusion.

There are four basic components in human blood: plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Red blood cells represent 40%-45% of your blood volume. They are generated from your bone marrow at a rate of four to five billion per hour. They have a life cycle of about 120 days in the human body. It can be segregated from the whole blood.

White blood cells (leukocytes) only account for about 1% of your blood, they are very important. White blood cells are essential for good health and protection against illness and disease. Like red blood cells, they are constantly being generated from your bone marrow. They flow through the bloodstream and attack viruses and bacteria. It can be segregated from the whole blood.

Platelets are an amazing part of your blood. It is the smallest of our blood cells and literally looks like small plates in their non-active form. Platelets control bleeding with their clotting process. Wherever a wound occurs, the blood vessel will send out a signal. Platelets receive that signal and travel to the area and transform into their active formation, growing long tentacles to make contact with the vessel and form clusters to plug the wound until it heals.

When platelet count is low, bleeding may occur from any part of the body and can lead to serious complications.

They prevent or stop bleeding and are life-saving therapy for patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer treatment, leukemia, bone marrow transplants, organ transplants and open heart surgery. Children undergoing therapy for cancer and leukemia often need platelets. Due to recent advances in the treatment of these illnesses, the demand for platelets is growing dramatically.

Almost anyone can be a platelet donor.Aged between 18 to 65, and weight above 60kgs. The qualifications are the same as for whole blood donation.

Since platelets only have a shelf life of five days.The hospital demand for them is constant.

The process is similar to giving blood, but using specialist equipment called a cell separator. The cell separator extracts platelets from donor blood and the rest of the blood returned back to the donor. The donation typically lasts from 60 to 90 minutes, You can expect the whole process takes up to 2 hours. During which time you can read or simply relax.

Less than 10% of your platelets will be collected during a platelet donation. The total volume of your donation will not exceed 8% of your blood volume. The donated platelets will be replaced within 24- 48 hours.

Up to 24 times a year with a minimum interval of 2 days between prior donations.Due to the flexibility of platelet donation, many donors create their own schedules. We have some donors that donate twice a month, once a month, once a year or whenever they can. And every donation is appreciated and there is a tremendous need for platelet donors.

A platelet donation allows the collection of a large number of platelets from a single donor. The specialized technology separates and collects just the platelets and returns the red cells and plasma to the donor.To equal the quantity of one platelet donation, we would have to combine or "pool" the platelets from six different whole blood donations from six different donors.

YES ! We have several donors that donate both whole blood and platelets. Due to the difference in donation frequency guidelines, donor can arrange to fit both types of donations in their schedule.

o Platelets are not collected at Blood Drives. o Donating platelets is a very safe procedure. Sterile , single use collection kits and needles are used once, just for you and then discarded. o You can donate platelets 24 times a year compared to 4 times in a year for whole blood. o Because it takes more time to separate and collect the platelets from the other components in your blood, the donation takes approximately 90 minutes. The entire process , including paperwork and health history, usually takes about 2 hours. o Platelet Donors can not have taken any aspirin or aspirin products for 48 hours before their donation. o You feel no different from donating blood, and are instructed to return to your normal (not strenuous) activities. Dizziness and fainting are very uncommon with platelet donors.

yes it is safe. Platelet donations are performed in a highly-controlled, sterile environment by professionally trained staffs. All platelet collection equipment is sterilized and equipment that is in contact with the donor's blood is used only once and that is eliminating the possibility of transmitting any viral infection

You cannot donate platelets if you have taken aspirin, aspirin-containing medications, like pain killers, such as Ibuprofen, Diclofenac in the last 48 hours.

Plasma is the liquid portion of your blood. Plasma is yellowish in color and is made up mostly of water, but it also contains proteins, sugars, hormones, and salts. It transports water and nutrients to your body’s tissues.

The donor must be fit and healthy, and should not be suffering from transmittable diseases like malaria, HIV,AIDS, Hepatitis etc. The donor must be 18–65 years old and should weigh a minimum of 50 kg. Pulse rate between 50 and 100 without irregularities. Blood pressure Diastolic: 50–100 mm Hg and Systolic: 100–180 mm Hg. Body temperature should be normal, with an oral temperature not exceeding 37.5 °C. Every 3 months can donate after the previous blood donation.

» Eat and Drink something before leaving » Drink more liquids than usual in next 4 hours » Don't smoke for next 30 minutes » Avoid strenuous work for the next 24 hours » If there is bleeding from the phlebotomy site,raise the arm and apply pressure

A person who has been tested HIV positive. Individuals suffering from ailments like cardiac arrest, hypertension, blood pressure, cancer, epilepsy, kidney ailments and diabetes. A person who has undergone ear/body piercing or tattoo in the past 6 months. Individuals who have undergone immunization in the past 1 month. Individuals treated for rabies or received Hepatitis B vaccine in the past 6 months.

A person who has consumed alcohol in the past 24 hours. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Individuals who have undergone major dental procedures or general surgeries in the past 1 month. Women who have had miscarriage in the past 6 months. Individuals who have had fits, tuberculosis, asthma and allergic disorders in the past.

» There is no substitute for human Blood! » Blood makes up about 7% to 8% your body's weight. » More than Sixty percent of the population is eligible o donate blood, however,only five percent donating. » An average adult has about 14 to 18 pints of Blood. » One standard unit or pint of Blood equals about two cups. » Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to all of the body. » More than 10 tests, nine of which are for infectious diseases, are performed on each unit of donated blood. » Blood fights against infection and helps heal wounds. » One unit of donated whole Blood is separated into components before use. » Platelets help blood to clot and give those with leukemia and other cancers a chance to live. » Plasma is a pale yellow mixture of water, proteins, and salts. » White blood cells are the body's primary defense against infection. » One out of every 10 people entering a hospital needs blood. » There are four main types of blood are: A, B, AB and O. » Each Blood type is either Rh positive or negative. » The average red blood cell transfusion is 3.4 pints. » There are about one billion red Blood cells in a few drops of whole Blood. » Females receive 53% of blood transfused; males receive 47%. » Red Blood cells live 120 days in our bodies. » Red Blood cells can be stored under normal conditions for up to 42 days.

You can donate blood after 14 days of your any or each dose of covid 19 vaccination in india if you are eligible as per the blood donation criteria.