What is an automated blood donation (also known as “apheresis”)?
Automated blood donation uses technology developed by Haemonetics Corporation (NYSE: HAE). During an automated procedure, a qualified volunteer blood donor donates specific blood components. Blood is collected via a single-use disposable kit and separated while a person is donating. It is spun until the blood components separated by weight-denser blood products, such as red blood cells, are pushed to the outside of the disposable centrifuge bowl and lighter products, such as plasma, remain near the middle. This separation process is more accurate than traditional whole blood collection, for which operators must manually separate blood components. It also allows for the collection of one or two complete units of blood components immediately ready for transfusion to a patient.
