Platelet Donation

Platelet apheresis is a special kind of blood donation that allows whole blood to be withdrawn from a donor and separated into its component parts (red cells, platelets, and plasma) with all but the platelets being returned to the donor. The platelets are then made available to patients and transfused within five days.

Your body is able to replenish its supply of platelets very quickly, allowing you to donate platelets as frequently as every seven days, but no more than 24 times a year.

What Are Platelets?

Platelets are parts of blood that help prevent bleeding by allowing clots to form and wounds to heal. Patients need platelets for many different procedures, including heart surgery, burn treatments, bone marrow transplants, organ transplant surgeries, cancer, aplastic anemia, sickle cell anemia, and other serious illnesses.

A world-renowned facility, Mass General constantly increases its practices in cancer treatment and transplant surgery. As these two fields grow, the need for lifesaving platelet donations also increases.

What to Expect

Please allow two hours for the entire process, and expect your actual donation to take 90 to 100 minutes. During your donation you may read and relax, stream your favorite television shows or surf the web on one of our tablets, or watch a movie from our DVD library. After your donation, enjoy an assortment of refreshments and, most importantly, know that you just saved a life!

Platelet donations are taken only on the main Mass General Campus, 55 Fruit Street, at The Kraft Family Blood Donor Center in Jackson 120. Please review our blood donation eligibility guidelines prior to making an appointment.

Platelet donors should make an appointment prior to coming in to donate platelets. Our platelet donation hours are Mon–Thurs 7:30 am–5:00 pm (with our last appointments beginning at 5:00 pm), and Fridays 8:30 am–3:00 pm (with our last appointments beginning at 3:00 pm).

To make an appointment please email or call 617-724-9699.

Platelet Saturdays (2024 Schedule)

You can schedule an appointment for Platelet Saturdays by clicking the link of your preferred date.