Also known as “apheresis-derived platelets,” “pheresis platelets,” “platelets, pheresis,” or “single donor platelets,” this product refers to the platelets obtained from a single apheresis procedure that harvests platelets from a single donor (usually, enough is collected to supply at least two recipients with one “dose” when the contents of the collection is split into two or more bags). About 90% of the platelets transfused in the United States today come from apheresis. In comparison to the alternative U.S. platelet product, whole blood-derived platelets, this product has a minimum of about SIX times more platelets per bag (at least 3.0 x 10¹¹ per bag, by regulation, as compared to a minimum of 5.5 x 10¹⁰ per bag for whole blood platelets). Importantly, apheresis platelets are not demonstrably more effective than whole blood platelets, but they do offer the advantage of fewer donor exposures (check out the very first episode of the BBGuy Essentials Podcast for more discussion on this issue).