Power Red or Double Red Cell Donation

A Power Red donation uses an automated process that removes twice the amount of red cells as a whole blood donation, then returns your platelets and plasma to you.

The process for donating Power Red is called apheresis, an automated donation process in which whole blood goes into a machine that separates out the red cells and returns the other blood components (platelets, plasma and white cells) back to the donor along with hydrating saline solution. The donation process takes about 25 to 35 minutes longer than a whole blood donation. Many donors say they feel better after a Power Red donation because the saline solution they receive leaves them more hydrated.