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Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body, and help in
the removal of carbon dioxide from our system. Red
blood cells are most needed by patients after
significant blood loss through trauma, surgery, or
anemia. Since area hospitals use a large volume of
red blood cells every day, the need for red blood cells
is constant.
Donors can donate red blood cells every eight or 16
weeks, depending on the donation procedure. People
with Type O- blood are considered universal red blood
cell donors and are in high demand as blood donors.
Patients of any blood type can receive O- blood.
Double red blood cell donations are made through an
automated process. From registration to
refreshments, donating red blood cells takes a little
more than an hour.
Double Red Blood Cell Qualifications
The basic qualifications for double red blood cell
donors are similar to those for
whole blood
donations. For a double red blood cell procedure,
men must weigh at least 130 pounds; women must weigh at
least 150 pounds and be at least 5’3’’ tall.
Donors with blood types O, A, and B are asked to
consider a double red blood cell donation.
Donors interested in donating double red blood cells
should call Central Blood Bank’s Apheresis Department at
412-209-7030 or 1-866-DONORS-1 to schedule an
appointment, or you may
schedule
your appointment online.
Due to the special process involved with donating double
red blood cells, Central Blood Bank collects double red
blood cells at the following community donor centers
only:
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