SPD Facility in KIMS Blood Bank

By Prof (Dr.) SukantaTripathy

HOD Blood Bank, KIMS

Nowadays, there have been a considerable number of queries regarding the availability of Single Donor Platelets (SDP) in the Blood Bank. The procedure to be followed to procure Apheresis platelets (SDP) is mentioned below:

Platelets that are routinely available in Blood Banks are Random Donor Platelets (RDP). Availability of the same depends on the number of routine blood donations carried out in the Blood Bank.

Single Donor Platelets (SDP) depend on an Apheresis Donor, who normally comes against a specific need. Single Donor Platelets (SDP) are not available off the shelf of a Blood Bank.

This donation entails a specialized collection process where an automated cell separator machine is used to separate and collect platelets from whole blood. This procedure allows donors to donate many more platelets when compared to whole blood donation. The rest of the blood is returned to the donor.

Procedure to be followed for Plateletpheresis

1.    An appointment for plateletpheresis should be taken from the Blood Bank.

2.    The Clinician/Nurse in charge of the patient should counsel the patient/relative to arrange a donor for the procedure.

3.    A prerequisite for being recruited as a SDP donor is having an adequate platelet count which is tested for by performing (Complete Blood Count – CBC) and a negative TTI (Transfusion Transmitted Infection) report which include the following: HCV, HIV, HBSAg (By ELISA Method), VDRL, and MP.

4.    They should visit the Department of Transfusion Medicine for the procedure with the CBC and TTI screening report from the Central Laboratory.

5.    They will be tested for grouping and evaluated for plateletpheresis compatibility. It takes almost 1.5 to 2 hours to complete this process.

(Please note that no Procedure is done on Sundays and holidays.)

Who can donate platelets?

While counseling the patients/relatives to arrange SDP donors, the following things should be kept in mind: –

      1. Age limit: 18 to 60 years

2. Haemoglobin: 12.5 g/dl or more
3. Weight : 50 Kgs or more
4. Platelet count: more than 1.5 lakh per microliter
5. Donors should have a prominent vein visible on the arm.
6. They should preferably be repeat donors. After whole blood donation a plateletpheresis donor will not be accepted for 28 days.
7. Male donors are preferred and they should ideally have the same blood group as the recipient.
8. They should not eat oily, fatty or spicy food before donation; a light meal is apt.
9. They should not have taken Aspirin /NSAIDs within 72 hours of donation.