An effective blood component dose is the quantity needed to benefit the patient. It takes six to eight whole blood donors compared to one automated donor to provide the average effective dose of platelets to a patient. By donating platelets through an automated system, you supply all the platelet needs of one patient. The patient is only exposed to one donor, instead of as many as eight!

Additionally, platelets are not "type-specific." That is, although a donor may have type O, A, B, or AB blood, his or her platelets can be transfused, if necessary, to a patient with a different blood type. Therefore, donors with all blood types are encouraged to donate platelets.

Platelet donors in the U.S. are volunteer donors. The platelets donated are only used for transfusion to patients.