Donation basics
Why Platelet Donors Are Needed
Cancer wards run on platelets — and platelets barely keep.
Five-day shelf life
Platelets expire in about 5 days (vs ~35–42 for red cells), so supply must be continuously replenished — there is no stockpiling your way out.
Who needs them
Chemotherapy patients, dengue cases, leukemia and transplant patients often need repeated platelet transfusions during treatment.
Apheresis: give just platelets
A single-donor apheresis session takes ~90 minutes, returns your red cells, and yields as much as several whole-blood donations — donors can give every two weeks.
Frequently asked questions
Does dengue season increase need?
Sharply — platelet requests spike during outbreaks; registered platelet donors are gold then.
Are platelet donors eligibility rules different?
Similar to whole blood, plus a minimum platelet count checked at the bank; aspirin in the last 72 hours defers.