Whole Blood

Whole blood contains red cells, white cells, platelets and plasma. Because patients seldom require all of the components of whole blood, it is rarely transfused as a unit. A whole blood donation can be separated into platelets, plasma and red cells after your donation and could help save more than one life.

Whole blood:

Shelf life:
42 days
Patients who need whole blood:
trauma or surgery patients
Best blood type to donate:
O+, O-, B+, B-
Estimated donation time:
1 hour and 15 minutes
How often you can donate:
every 56 days, up to 6 times per year
To be eligible you must:
  • be at least 17 years old (16 for whole blood in Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska with parental consent)
  • weigh at least 110 lbs.
  • be in good health
Please remember to:
  • Consume more calcium a few days before donation
  • Not take any aspirin or products containing aspirin 48 hours before donation

Learn more about whole blood

* Platelet, plasma and double red cell donations are not available at all Red Cross operations.

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