American Red Cross Heart of America Region Implements New Blood Collection Technology That Results In Two Units Of Red Blood Cells Instead Of One From A Single Donation.

The American Red Cross Heart of America Blood Services Region is one of the first blood centers nationwide to offer a new, state-of-the-art, automated blood collection system that provides donors a fast, comfortable and conventient way to maximize their donation and help ensure a steady and continuous blood supply. For just an extra 10 minutes on average, eligible donors can now give two units of red blood cells instead of approximately one pint of whole blood.

Red blood cells represent the blood component in greatest demand, yet they are often in short supply. Annually, approximately 14 million units of red blood cells are collected in the United States for transfusion to patients in need, including people undergoing critical surgeries, severely injured accident victims, and patients with certain types of cancers or chronic anemia.

An aging population and new medical treatments contribute to an increasing demand for surgeries and procedures requiring blood transfusions. At the same time, more restrictive donor eligibility criteria intended to protect the safety of the blood supply decreases the eligible donor pool. According to Jack Prause, CEO, "By obtaining two units of red blood cells from a single donor, this new automated technology increases the supply of critically needed red blood cells and maximizes the benefit donors can provide to patients. Recruiting more donors will still be critical, but using automated systems puts us in a better positions to meet increasing blood supply needs."

Currently, red blood cells are primarily collected through manual whole blood donations. Manual donation produce a single unit of red blood cells. With an automated red blood cell collection technology, such as the ALYX Component Collection System now being used by the Region, only red blood cells are collected, returning the other components, such as platelets and plasma, back to the donor. This process allows two units of red blood cells to be collected from a single donation.

"I was amazed at how fast and comfortable it was to donate on the ALYX System," said Christine Clutters of Peoria. "For just a few extra minutes I might be able to help two patients each time I donate, and that's a great feeling."

Most patients undergoing critical medical procedures require several transfusions. For example, an open heart surgery patient may require six units of red blood cells while an automobile accident victim may need up to 40. Daily, the Region needs to collect more than 500 units of blood to meet transfusion needs. While the vast majority of people are eligible to give blood, only about 5% do and only a small percentage of that give two or more times a year. Automated technology will help increase the blood supply, but it continues to be critical that those who are eligible donate regularly.

Locally, double red blood collection is limited, so please contact the chapter for when and where a collection is being made.