Today I donated my 400^th unit of platelets.

I donate sometimes as often as every week, but more typically 2-3 times every month. I happen to have a high level of platelets, so most of the time I donate three units of platelets (and sometimes also plasma) every time I go in.

After all the times I’ve been donated, I still am fascinated by the process – and I am still learning new things about platelets. Just last month I learned that matching donated platelets with recipients is pretty complex.

Platelets aren’t matched simply on blood type. Instead, like bone marrow transplants, platelets are tested to find the closest Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) match. It’s rarely 100%, but the closer the match, the better – especially for people with weakened immune systems.

What is HLA? Greatly simplified, the HLA system encodes the surface of your cells with unique proteins – rather like fingerprints for your cells. Your immune system will recognize cells with matching HLA as your own and fight off any that appear foreign.

Donated blood products with a poor HLA match really can be a risk to a patient with a weak immune system. I have been told that your healthy donation can actually attack the patient’s system.

So, platelet donations may be sent far, far away if they are a good match. A decent supply of platelets locally does not guarantee a close match.

I receive emails after my donations letting me know where my platelets have been sent. In the past year, here are all the places they ended up:

Destinations of Toby’s 2023 Platelet Donations

University of California- UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay, San Francisco, CA
West Los Angeles Medical Center., Los Angeles, CA
Egleston Hospital, Atlanta, GA
Tanner Medical Center Carrollton, Carrollton, GA
Northside Hospital, Atlanta, GA
University of Michigan Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI
McLaren Macomb, Mount Clemens, MI
Harper University Hospital, Detroit, MI 
MountainView Hospital, Las Vegas, NV
Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center, Las Vegas, NV
Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center, Clackamas, OR
Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center, Medford, OR
OHSU Hospital, Portland, OR
Salem Health, Salem, OR
Columbia Memorial Hospital, Astoria, OR
St. Charles Medical Center, Bend, OR
Adventist Medical Center, Portland, OR
OHSU Hospital, Portland, OR 
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Kadlec Regional Medical Center, Richland, WA
Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, WA
UW Medical Center, Seattle, WA
Astria Toppenish Hospital, Toppenish, WA
Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital, Yakima, WA

Given platelets can only be used within a week after they are collected, it takes sophisticated logistics to match, transport, and transfuse them in time!

They are needed especially by patients with cancer or leukemia, those undergoing major operations, and those who have been in bad accidents.

There is always an urgent need for platelets. Right now, the Red Cross reports that blood supplies are currently the lowest they have been in 20 years.

Platelets have higher eligibility requirements. If you are eligible, please consider donating. If you are in the Portland area, I will happily donate with you!

Want to learn more about donating platelets and why I do it? I’ve written more about platelet donation here.