Photo By Sgt. Judith Dacosta | Staff Sgt. John M. Cardenas, a 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Squadron quality...... read more read more
The 332d Expeditionary Medical Group platelet group arrived at Logistical Area Anaconda in April.
Two and a half weeks later, the 332d EMDG began to collect platelets, a blood clotting agent found in blood, providing the first apheresis collection service in Iraq for use in the Air Force Theater Hospital.
"There is a strong need to collect platelets here in Iraq," said Air Force Lt. Col. J. Peter Pelletier, a 332d EMDG physician and the OIC of the apheresis service.
Because platelets have a shelf life of seven days, whole blood cannot be shipped from the states, he said.
The donation of platelets as opposed to blood increases the Air Force medical staff's ability to treat the wounded in the nearby Air Force Theater Hospital.
"Platelets gathered from one donor are worth that of six people in a blood drive or six pints," said Pelletier. "That is enough for six transfusions," he added.
Staff members in the platelet collection facility agreed that the process is fairly streamlined.
In order to donate platelets, one must first go through a prescreening process, said Air Force Staff Sgt. Steven Beck, the 332d EMDG NCOIC of donor recruiting at the platelet collection facility.
"We check to ensure the Soldier is in overall good health," said Beck.
"We have them fill out a prescreening form and then we check their vital signs " things like blood pressure and temperature," said Pelletier.
The prescreening process usually takes about 15 minutes, Beck said.
"There have been rumors about who can and can't donate," said Pelletier.
Typically, one cannot donate blood or its components after spending one year in Iraq because of the risk of leishmaniasis and malaria, according to www.militaryblood.dod.mil, a Web site for the Armed Services Blood Program.
However, the risk of such a contraction is minimal and there has not been a case in theater for the past three years, said Pelletier.
All recipients are at the same risk as the donors in Iraq, said Pelletier, and that risk is minimal.
Prescreening paperwork is then sent via Federal Express to Wilford Hall in San Antonio, Texas and the results of blood samples are returned in about 7 to 10 days, said Pelletier.
Once individuals return for their scheduled appointment, the overall donating process may take up to two hours depending on the person, Pelletier said.
During the donating process, a needle " the same size used at blood draws " is stuck into the arm of the donor, said Pelletier. The blood is drawn into a bowl that spins like a centrifuge separating cells from the liquid parts of blood, he added.
In the bowl, a light sensor detects the layer of platelets in the bowl and collects them.
The remaining fluid is mixed with a citrate to keep it in the liquid form, said Pelletier. The blood is then returned to the donor.
"People are pretty excited about donating and appointment slots fill up quickly," said Beck.
"I usually donate blood every year," said Spc. Shauntae M. White, a 548th Logistics Task Force communications specialist.
"I didn't think I would be able to donate since I was deployed but I just found out that services were available here," she added.
"My 18-year-old little cousin passed away from leukemia so I have been donating blood to those like my cousin who needed it for the past 15 years," said Maj. Frank Lumm, a Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Corps Support Command force protection officer, and participant in the prescreening process.
"I love to donate," he said.
Individuals may donate up to two times per week and a total of 24 times a year, said Pelletier.
They even have the resources to pick up donors and drop them off at their quarters or at work for those who are located further away, and to avoid having individuals walking alone at night, said Beck.
The new collection site is located inside the Air Force Theater Hospital and appointments for platelet collection may be scheduled and are open 24 hours a day.
Individuals may also come in for a prescreening every Tuesday and Friday.
"It's a new program," said Air Force Staff Sgt. John M. Cardenas, the 332d EMDG quality assurance specialist.
"We are all qualified and we are all glad to be here providing this service," he added.
| Date Taken: | 06.07.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 06.07.2006 15:51 |
| Story ID: | 6725 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 153 |
| Downloads: | 39 |
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