NZ's most prolific blood donor

Paul Tomlin makes his 501st plasma donation at the Epsom Blood Centre. Photo / Jason Oxenham, NZ Herald

For 40 years Paul Tomlin has donated blood, and today he became the most prolific donor in the country with 501 donations in his life.

The 59-year-old university technician comes to New Zealand Blood Service's Epsom premises every other Friday morning and spends up to an hour "doing something to help others", he said.

Today he donated plasma, a part of blood that is highly sought after for its use in different health products.

Mr Tomlin said being a donor has become part of his identity and he has gotten to know the staff and other donors.

"Everyone at work knows and some of them have come along," Mr Tomlin said.

"It's nice to be here for a little while, I listen to my iPod and do a sudoku.... I like the cups of tea and chocolate biscuits after."

He first donated aged 19, when he was working with his uncle who was a blood donor.

Chief executive of New Zealand Blood Service Sam Cliffe said having regular donors like Mr Tomlin was really important.

"All donors are different, they come from all walks of life and backgrounds, but I think they all see it as a way to give something back.

"They think it's a relatively small way to give back, but for us it's very big."

One other New Zealander has donated 501 times, but was now over the age of donating, so Mr Tomlin has taken up the title, Ms Cliffe said.

Not many donors give blood as regularly as Mr Tomlin, she said.

"We make the experience as easy and convenient as possible.

"For regular donors, it just becomes part of their weekly or monthly routine."

Plasma, nicknamed 'liquid gold', is the gold-coloured liquid in blood that carries blood cells around the body.

Plasma is made up of water, proteins and clotting factors which are used for health products.

Products such as antibody concentrates are made from plasma and used for treating burn victims, people who have lost a lot of blood, patients with kidney problems and chemotherapy patients.

Plasma is collected in a machine that separates the plasma from the red blood cells and platelets, which are returned to the donor, meaning a quicker recovery time and donations can be made as frequently as once a fortnight.

The demand for plasma continues to rise as more uses for the product are discovered, Ms Cliffe said.

However, there currently is not enough supply to meet demand.

"We really need more plasma donors," she said.

To donate plasma you must be aged between 18 and 60, have donated blood at least once in the last two years with no problems and meet certain height and weight restrictions.

Blood donation by numbers

• 19 per cent of donations are plasma donations.
• 3000 donations of blood needed every week in New Zealand to meet hospital demands.
• 1587 plasma donors in Auckland.
• 528 new plasma donors needed in Auckland.
• 135 Kiwis need blood and blood products every day.
• 164,973 donations are collected per year.
• 1 unit of blood, around 470 ml, collected each donation.