Whole Blood Donation – Whole blood donation is a safe, simple and rewarding experience. A whole blood donation may be broken into three components. That means a single donation may help as many as three different patients in your community hospital. Heartland Blood Centers recommends that volunteers donate every eight weeks to assure that the blood will be available for those in need. Because blood cannot be manufactured, the only source is volunteer blood donors.

Red Cell Apheresis – Red Cell Apheresis is a new technology that allows Heartland Blood Centers to collect only red cells using an apheresis process. Over 63% of all needed transfusion units are red cells. Red Cell Apheresis separates red cells and plasma while your blood is being drawn, unlike whole blood donations where blood components are separated later in the process.  Our patients' medical conditions and critical needs determine the blood products they require.  By donating through apheresis we can better help match our donations collected to the needs of our hospitals.

Platelet Apheresis – Platelet Apheresis allows Heartland Blood Centers to collect only the

platelets which are vital for patients with bone marrow transplants, cancer, leukemia and other fatal blood disorders. During an apheresis procedure, blood will be removed from one arm, as in a regular blood donation. It will pass through a special machine called a cell separator where the desired components will be removed. The rest of the blood will be returned to you. The apheresis donation lasts about two hours.