Is it safe to give blood?
Yes, it is very safe. Each needle used in the procedure is sterile and is disposed of after a single use. 

How often can I donate blood?
People in good health who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate a unit of blood as often as every eight weeks. Some states may further limit the number and/or frequency of donations in a 12-month period. 

Where can I go to donate blood?
There are many places where donations can be made. Bloodmobiles travel to high schools, colleges, churches, and other community organizations. People can also donate at community blood centers and hospital-based donor centers. Many people donate at blood drives at their workplace. To find out where you can donate, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.

What is plateletpheresis?
Although most blood is donated as whole blood, it is also possible to donate only a portion of blood using a technique called apheresis. Blood is drawn from the vein of a donor into an apheresis instrument, which separates the blood into different portions by centrifugation. By appropriately adjusting the instrument, a selected portion of the blood, such as the platelets, can be recovered, while the rest of the blood is returned to the donor either into the same vein or into a vein in the other arm. This process takes more time than whole blood donation, but the yield of platelets is much greater. Platelets collected by apheresis are particularly useful for patients who require numerous platelet transfusions, for example cancer patients who have received chemotherapy. 

Can a patient donate his or her own blood for use in surgery?
Yes. When blood transfusions are anticipated, such as upcoming elective surgery, a person can donate blood for his or her own use. Autologous blood donation refers to a process whereby the patient provides his or her own blood. There are three types of autologous procedures available for a patient undergoing surgery. Preoperative autologous donation, in which the patient donates his or her own blood prior to the surgery, is the most common form of autologous transfusion. Intraoperative and postoperative cell salvage are two other ways of saving blood lost during or immediately after surgery for return to the donor/patient.