Donate plasma in the Donation Centre Vienna 9

In our donation centre you can donate both plasma and platelets.

What is platelet donation?

Blood consists of a liquid part, the plasma, and the formed elements, the red and white blood cells and the thrombocytes (= blood platelets). The thrombocytes are important for blood clotting, without these cells a person could not survive, e.g. in wounds there would be no hemostasis.

Platelets are donated by voluntary donors in a similar way to plasma, there are the following differences: 

• the time required is slightly higher, about 50-70 minutes (accordingly the expense allowance is higher), the blood circulating outside the body is less than in plasma donation and the type of machine used is different.
• The bag with the removed platelet donation has a content of 300 ml. This bag is irradiated after the donation in order to kill any pathogens.  Because the platelets only have a shelf life of a few days, the donations are delivered to the hospitals immediately.

What are platelet concentrates used for?

• It's an emergency medication. It is needed when there is a risk of bleeding due to the patient's low platelet count, which can be the case with various clinical pictures. For example, bleeding after accidents (together with blood preserves), in oncological patients undergoing cytostatic therapy or if platelet production is reduced in the case of bone marrow damage.
• We check each of our plasma donors to see whether a platelet donation is also an option, provided that the initial platelet count is sufficiently high.
• If you are interested in platelet donation, then simply talk to our doctor. To be able to donate thrombocytes, you must have donated plasma at least once.