AbstractThe conversion of multiple whole blood donors to apheresis donors is a challenge since a rapidly expanding apheresis donor base could erode homologous collections. We addressed this concern with a plan to enhance apheresis recruitment as well as donations among homologous donors with types O and B blood. Focusing the donor's attention on blood type as it relates to type‐specific product needs was the basis of our approach. A matrix was used to recruit the desired types for the desired procedures (whole blood, platelet/plasma apheresis). The matrix instructed donors of blood types O, A‐, and B‐ to primarily give whole blood and to give apheresis as a secondary donation. Donors AB, A+, and B+ were primarily directed to apheresis donations, whole blood donation being secondary. A+ and O‐ donors only gave their secondary donation if they were at maximum donations with the primary donation.The collections by blood type in percentages for 12 months of 1992/93 for whole blood were O+ 38.9, 0‐ 7.3, A+ 29.5, A‐ 5.7, B+ 11.9, B‐ 2.1, AB+ 3.7, AB+ 0.7. For apheresis it was 0+ 36.2, 0‐ 6.7, A+ 33.0, A‐ 6.6, B+ 10.4, B‐ 1.2, AB+ 4.9, AB+ 1.0. In 1992/93, A+ and B+ apheresis collections as compared to total apheresis collections increased by 4.9% and 13.7%, respectively. For O group apheresis donations, a decrease of 2.5% was shown and A+ whole blood donations decreased by 5.35%. During the same period of time, total apheresis collections increased by 3,058 units. We demonstrated that integration of apheresis recruitment with type‐specific whole blood recruitment yielded significant increases of t