Platelet Doning

[IndieSinger]

Whilst giving blood this morning, I noticed a sign asking for 'platelet doners'. I asked a member of staff and she told me I can't be one because I'm AB+ and at the moment they're "not yet accepting" anything other than Os and As.

She said it through gritted teeth, as if she was angry that they're still not yet accepting other blood groups, especially seeing as even out of those who can and do become platelet doners, only one in every five can actually be accepted.

So I was wondering what platelet doning actually is, why they are only accepting blood groups A and O and if that's likely to change in the near future. Many thanks in advance.

[cassimer]

About it generally:
Plateletpheresis is the process of collecting donated platelets. A venipuncture is performed on one arm in which blood is drawn through closed sterile tubing. The blood then passes through a centrifuge, which separates platelets from whole blood. The platelets are harvested in the sterile collection bags with almost all red cells and plasma returned to the donor via a second needle in the other arm. It is important to know that new sterile tubing and collection bags are used for each donor. During the donation the blood stays inside the kit, thus blood never touches anything that is not sterile. After the donation the used kit is discarded.

Takes quite a long time - 1-2 hours but really important for leukaemia and cancer patients and premee babies, as there is less chance of rejection effects of blood transfusions with just platelets. You have to go to a special centre which has the equipment and you need to be a reular donor, giving 2 hrs a month.

As to why only A and O...
I really dont know but would guess it is something to do with demand, that A and O are most common and so most needed? Seems ridiculous but cant find out why. Relatively new means of donation, so perhaps just judging sucess first before expanding,

[IndieSinger]

Great answer, thank-you. I had similar thoughts about the demand factor - maybe they're sticking to universal donors as exact platelet matches aren't necessary (just as they're not essential (but preferred) for blood). Thanks again.

[cassimer]

Just found something in the Scottish blood service page which says that:

We normally aim to recruit platelet donors with Group O and
Group A blood, although occasionally we may need donors
with other blood groups.

Not much of an answer but backs up the supply/demand theory!

[thekraut]

about the why only 0 and A:

maybe its because it's not possible to separate the platelets from all the antibodies in the blood. as 0-blood has antigenes against A and B on the erythrocytes, there are no antibodies. So platelets from 0- donors can be given to basically all patients. and AB+ platelets can only be given to AB+ patients - a small minority.

as A is one of the most common groups it might be worth accepting A-donors, because it's still safer to give the matching group, as there are other factors besides AB0 and Rhesus (Kell...)

hope that's been some help

[HaleyDorsett]

I don't know if you will read this as it's been awhile since you posted your question. What the nurse said doesn't make sense. AB+ is a universal donor for platelets and plasma and a universal recipient for everything (according to the American Red Cross).