• About Platelets Donation
• Instructions For Screening
• Instructions For Platelets Donation
• On-line Reply Slip

What is platelet?
Platelet is the smallest of the cells in the blood. Platelets are essential for the clotting of blood. Patients with blood disorders, leukaemia or cancer may need frequent platelet transfusions as their platelets are destroyed after chemotherapy, radiation treatment or bone marrow transplant. These patients will need multiple platelet transfusions over a period of time to help prevent bleeding.

What is platelets donation?
Platelets donation or platelet-pheresis is a special kind of blood donation that allows platelets to be extracted from whole blood through a blood separator machine.

How do I become a platelets donor?
To be a platelets donor, you will first need to go through screening. You must:

• Be between 18 to 45 years old.
• Weigh at least 50kg.
• Be in good health and not been on any medication (eg antibiotics, aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs) for the last 72 hours.
• Have a good prominent veins on both forearms that can hold up against the suction of the blood separator machine. For this reason, male donors are preferred.
• Go through a medical screening.

Will it help if I get a large group of people to come all at a time to donate platelets?
Patients in general need one unit of platelets a day. As platelets have a limited lifespan of 3 to 5 days, collection of platelets therefore needs to be staggered and is best arranged through appointment.

To help us organise the screening efficiently, please do not come in a large group all at a time, but call us for an appointment first before coming for the screening.

After screening, we will arrange with the suitable donors to be on the standby. They will be activated for donation closer to when the patient needs platelet transfusion.


How do I make an appointment for screening?
You can contact the Staff Nurse in-charge of Apheresis by one of the following ways:

• Telephone: 6321-4568
• Fax completed response slip to 6326-5185
• Mail completed response slip
• Complete on-line response form on our website at http://www.sgh.com.sg/platelets.html

Where and when is donor screening and platelets donation performed?

Apheresis
Haematology Centre
Block 7 Level 2
Singapore General Hospital
Outram Road
Monday to Friday : 9.00 am to 4.00pm
Saturday : 9:00am to 11:30am
Sunday and Holidays : Closed

What are the donor screening procedures?

• Checking by the Staff Nurse on the suitability of the veins on your forearms.
• Answering of some questions that are important to platelets donation.
• Undergoing a medical examination by the doctor.
• Providing blood samples for tests to determine your blood group and full blood cell counts.

Do I have to pay for the screening procedure?
No. The screening and laboratory fees will be charged to the patient.

How and when will I be activated?
The Staff Nurse will contact you at least one day in advance and give you an appointment and relevant instructions.
Please be punctual for your appointment at Apheresis.

How is platelets donation made?
A needle is inserted into your vein at the forearm after local anaesthetic. Sterile procedure tubings are connected to the needle and blood is drawn from your vein into the blood separator machine, which will separate platelets from whole blood.

You will feel a slight discomfort when the needle is being inserted. The rest of the procedure is painless and will take between 2 to 3 hours to complete.

What happens to the platelets after collection?
The platelets will be sent to the laboratory for testing to render it suitable for transfusion to the patient.

How often can I donate platelets?
You can donate platelets as often as every 72 hours but donations should not exceed 24 times a year.