Whole Blood

Whole blood contains red cells, white cells, platelets and plasma. Because patients seldom require all of the components of whole blood, it is rarely transfused as a unit. A whole blood donation can be separated into platelets, plasma and red cells after your donation and could help save more than one life.

Whole blood:

Shelf life:
42 days
Patients who need whole blood:
trauma or surgery patients
Best blood type to donate:
O+, O-, B+, B-
Estimated donation time:
1 hour and 15 minutes
How often you can donate:
every 56 days, up to 6 times per year
To be eligible you must:
  • be at least 17 years old (16 for whole blood in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin with parental consent)
  • weigh at least 110 lbs. High school students and donors under the age of 19 must also meet the additional height and weight requirements listed below.

    Male donors under the age of 19 must weigh 110 pounds or more, depending on their height according to the following chart:
    If you are
    		 4'10" 4'11" 5' or taller
    You must weigh at least
    		 120 115 110

    Female donors under the age of 19 must weigh 110 lbs or more, depending on their height according to the following chart:
    If you are
    		 4'10" 4'11" 5' 5'1" 5'2" 5'3" 5'4" 5'5" 5'6" or taller
    You must weigh at least
    		 146 141 138 133 129 124 118 115 110
  • be in good health

Learn more about whole blood

* Platelet, plasma and double red cell donations are not available at all Red Cross operations.

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