This is from my last donation when I was asked to give Platelets (pretty sure the nurse meant Double Red Cell) instead of the regular 1 pint of whole blood they usually get. This process took almost an hour compared to 15 minutes a regular donation takes. What they do is hook you up to a machine that drains out some blood, then it pulls all the red blood cells out, then it pumps the clear plasma fluid back into your arm. Within seconds, the tube is turning red and blood is draining. Then the tube turns clear when it pumps your fluid minus red blood cells back in into your body. What is the reason for this? Apparently, this donation can be taken directly to the Hospital or ER, OR as it is ready to be given to a patient. Regular donations have to be processed in much the same way which takes time and they do not get as much red blood cells from one pint of blood as they get when they do it this way.
Anyway, sorry for the long winded reason for posting two pics. I thought it was kind of cool to see the dark red tube, then see it go clear. Unfortunately for me, found out I am a little bit anemic and apparently not absorbing iron as well as I thought. This process kicked my ass for the past few weeks and I still feel tired and winded easily. But, I am improving and getting repaired. I will be back and at it in no time.