When blood is collected it still contains all of the blood components; thus it is called ' Whole Blood '.  This is the most common type of blood donation.  During processing, each whole blood unit may be separated into up to four blood components: red blood cells, platelets, plasma and white blood cells.  In order to donate whole blood, donors must meet all routine donor eligibility criteria .  The donation process generally takes about 30 to 45 minutes.  Whole blood donors may donate at mobile drives or at one of our convenient donor centers every 56 days.