THE REST OF THE COMPONENTS ARE GETTING RETURNED THROUGH THIS TUBING, AND THE PLATELETS ARE GETTING DRAWN UP INTO THESE TWO COLLECTION BAGS. DONORS LIKE JIM HAVE TO HAVE A STRONG VEIN AND TIME.

"You see this whole bag? It's filled with so many sweatshirts," Barrentine said. He has collected a lot of swag throughout the years. Every blood or platelet donation earns him a baseball cap or T ...

It takes around 10 minutes or less to fill up a 350 or 450ml bag. This is approximately 8 to 12 per cent of the blood volume ...