What To Expect When Donating Blood

What Happens While Donating Blood

The whole blood donation process typically takes around ten minutes, and the patient will be reclining or lying down during the donation. First, a staff member will locate a suitable vein in one of the patient's arms. After cleaning the skin, they will insert a needle into the patient's vein. The needle is connected to a tube and a bag that collects the blood. When one pint of blood has been collected, the staff member will withdraw the needle and place a bandage over the site. Other types of blood donations, including platelet donations, require the use of an apheresis machine. These donations can take between ninety to 120 minutes. Thanks to new technology, donations completed with an apheresis machine can now be done with a single needle in one arm. Platelet donors can sometimes start to feel cold during their donation as a result of the anticoagulant used for the procedure; it must be kept at room temperature. To counteract this, donation centers usually provide blankets and heating pads for donors. Some platelet donors may also experience a tingling sensation on their lips during donation. If this occurs, the donation can be paused for a short period. Donors of any type of blood product could notice slight bruising at the needle site.

Learn about the protocol for after a donation is made next.