300 Longwood Avenue Boston, MA 02115 (617) 355-6000 About Us: Platelets If you want to do more, and can spare 90 minutes, help our young cancer patients in their recovery by donating pheresis platelets. Platelet Pheresis is the process that removes platelets while returning the donor's own red blood cells and plasma to the donor. This highly specialized blood product is used primarily in the treatment of cancer, leukemia, and patients undergoing all forms of transplantation. Platelets cause clotting, and without platelet transfusions, these young patients are in danger of having serious bleeding episodes. Points of interest: Platelets can be donated more often than whole blood, as often as every two weeks and up to 24 times in a year, but can only be stored for 5 days. Plateletpheresis takes approximately 60-90 minutes. Any healthy person who meets the requirements to donate whole blood and has not taken aspirin containing products for at least 3 days can donate platelets. We regret that we cannot accommodate requests for directed platelets. Appointments are typically required. The information on this website should not be taken as medical advice, which can only be given to you by your personal health care professional. Copyright © Children's Hospital Boston. All rights reserved.