There was a call on my mobile on 13th dec at about 8.15pm requesting for a platelet donation. The patient was diagnosed with blood cancer and required constant infusion of platelets. I enquired about the hospital where apheresis was to take place( BTW apheresis is taking out components of whole blood from the donor, while returning the reminder of the blood minus drawn component back to him. The entire thing, is done by hooking to an automatic machine, which takes ur blood, removes the platelet and returns the blood back to u). It was in BGS hospital almost 21 km from my residence. By the time we reached hospital it was 9.15pm. Initial testing took around 30 min. After satisfying with the quality of blood, I was finally hooked to the apheresis machine at around 10 pm. The only contact with the machine is through a needle hole in ur vein like in blood donation. But the difference here is, after the needle, three tubes are connected to the machine. Once the machine takes around a unit (400 ml) of ur blood, it starts the centrifuge and the platelet( it can be plasma or the Cells) is separated and collected in a collecting bag. Now, this blood is returned back to you. All this will repeat 10 or 11 times in a span of 50 to 75 min. U can read a magazine or listen to ur fav music while this is going on.
So by 11pm I was happy to have donated platelet to a patient. I was informed that one can donate platelets 24 times a year!! See the number of dengue patients u would be saving. Except for the time factor, I think more donors should be forthcoming to donate platelets.
I reached home by 12pm feeling exhausted but extremely happy. incidentally the patient is recovering.
