Donate

Ways to give blood

Whole blood donation

Your single whole blood donation has the potential to help more than one patient. After your blood is donated, it is separated into its various components – red blood cells, plasma and platelets. It is then given to patients with different needs.

Donating whole blood takes about an hour from sign-in to having a snack before leaving.  The actual donation takes only five to seven minutes.

Blood components donation

A blood components donation is the selective removal of one or more components during the donation itself. Your blood is collected and passed through a machine, the needed platelets, plasma or red blood cells are collected, and the rest of the blood is returned to you. This allows a greater volume of components to be collected from a single donor.
The need for component donors is growing rapidly. Advanced cancer treatments and the increasing number of marrow and organ transplants has created a greater demand for blood components.

Not every donor possesses the physical characteristics and available time to give components. The component donation process allows eligible donors to help meet the demand in a special way by giving high concentrations of what is needed most at any particular time.

A components donation takes two to three hours.

Where you can give blood

There are many convenient BloodSource donor centers throughout Northern and Central California. Think about the type of donation you would like to give, either whole blood or blood components. Then choose the location that is most convenient for you.

To find out what type of donation is most needed at this time, call 866.82 BLOOD.

Click here to schedule an appointment for a blood donation.