Currently the Burlington Donor Center is looking for type A and B donors for a special kind of blood donation called plateletpheresis.

Using an apheresis machine in our donor room, whole blood is drawn from one or both arms into a machine. Your platelets are collected and the remaining blood components are returned to you.

Enough platelets can be collected from a donor through the pheresis technology to provide an entire dose to a patient. Platelets are vitally important to someone with cancer or leukemia since treatment by chemotherapy and radiation often destroys the body's ability to make platelets. Getting a platelet transfusion via pheresis reduces multiple donor exposure for the patient, cutting down on possible transfusion reactions.

Because of increased demand by area hospitals, the plateletpheresis room at the Burlington Red Cross Donor Center is looking for more platelet donors to help meet the increased need. Donation appointments are available every day, including weekends.

If you are interested and would like more information or want to schedule an appointment, contact Priscilla King at (802) 658-6400 or 1-800-843-3500. She'll be able to answer any questions you may have about participating in this very special program.

Did you know you can watch your favorite video while helping save someone's life through your platelet donation? Ask us about our movie library!

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