The exact time varies from donor to donor, but in general, you should plan on spending about two hours at your platelet donation appointment. What you can expect is:
- When you check in, you will be asked for your photo ID. Then, you will complete a confidential questionnaire about your medical and travel history.
- Next, you will go into a private screening room to go over your questionnaire.
- You will then have a mini-check-up (including taking your temperature and blood pressure) to confirm that you are eligible to donate that day.
- You will then move to a comfortable, heated chair in our main donation area.
- For your platelet donation, a single-use kit is used and disposed of after the collection process.
- During the collection process, platelets are separated and your red cells and plasma are gently returned to you.
- The donation process itself takes about 90 minutes. You will be able to lay back and relax, read a book or magazine, watch a TV show or movie from our multimedia library on a personal TV screen, or surf the Internet with our free WiFi.
- After the donation is complete, you will be asked to remain in the Kraft Center for a few minutes and enjoy snacks and drinks.
