Blood is a living tissue that is pumped throughout the body by the heart, carrying nutrients and oxygen to every cell. Blood is made up of red blood cells, platelets, white blood cells, proteins and the liquid portion of the blood known as plasma.

Blood Components

One pint of blood can be separated into four distinct components:

Red blood cells - Red blood cells give your blood its red color and carry oxygen from your lungs to your body's tissues. They also take carbon dioxide back to your lungs.

White blood cells - White blood cells (leukocytes) are disease-fighting cells. One type of white cell is the granulocyte, collected to help people fight unusual infections.

Platelets - Platelets help blood to clot; they are vital to the survival of bone marrow transplant patients, cancer patients and those with aplastic anemia and other immune compromised patients. They are very small cell fragments whose main function is to stop bleeding.

Plasma Derivatives - Help maintain blood pressure, carry blood cells, nutrients, enzymes and hormones and supply critical proteins for blood clotting and immunity.

For more information about blood, please visit the Donation Information Center.