Occupational Medicine
What is Plateletpheresis?
Plateletpheresis (plat'let-fe-re sis) is a special blood donation process that allows you to give one part of your blood-platelets- the cells that help you stop bleeding. During a plateletpheresis donation, blood is drawn from one arm and goes into a blood cell separator instead of a blood donation bag (as it would during a regular blood donation). When the blood is in the separator your platelets are carefully removed. Then, the rest of your blood - plasma, red cells, and white cells - is returned to you through your other arm.
If you are healthy, there is an excess supply of platelets in your blood and removing them will not harm you. In fact, your body will replace the extracted platelets in about 24 hours.