Tauranga needs 119 new plasma donors by the end of the year in order to keep up with the constant demand for plasma and plasma-derived products, according to New Zealand Blood Service's 'Hearts of Gold' campaign figures.
Asuka Burge, National Manager Marketing and Communications for New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS), said Tauranga plasma donors made up 7 per cent of all plasma donors from around the country.
"We would love to see more of our generous and loyal Bay of Plenty blood donors consider making the switch to plasma donation. Healthcare services in Tauranga need almost 90 units of plasma per week, and there is no substitute for it. With clinical requirements for plasma-derived products increasing at a rate of 5 to 9 per cent per year around the country, demand is only set to increase," said Ms Burge.
The Donor Centre in Tauranga is one of seven centres around the country where plasma donations can be made, and an appointment takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes.
Plasma, nicknamed 'liquid gold', is the gold-coloured liquid in blood that carries blood cells around the body, and is made up of water, proteins and clotting factors.
"Donating plasma is easy and efficient, and can make the world of difference to the person needing it. NZBS collects plasma through an apheresis machine, which is able to separate the blood, store the plasma and return the red cells and platelets to the donor through one small needle in the arm," Ms Burge said.
"Plasma donors feel great after a donation even though it takes a little longer than a whole blood donation. Because the red cells are returned to the donor it also means they can donate more frequently than whole blood donors, who are limited to a three-month wait between donations."
93 per cent of donated plasma is manufactured into products such as antibody concentrates EVOGAM® and Intragam P®, albumin and blood clotting factor concentrates.
These products are used for treating burn victims, people who have lost a lot of blood, kidney patients and chemotherapy patients. They are also used to help treat some people with bleeding disorders such as haemophilia and von Willebrand disease, as well as to boost the immune systems of people who do not have enough antibodies of their own to protect against some infections.
Some plasma donations are stored in hospital Blood Banks as fresh frozen plasma. They are needed for transfusions when many blood clotting factors and other blood proteins are all needed at the same time.
NZBS is launching a 'Hearts of Gold' campaign this week to encourage more people to consider switching to donating plasma - a life-saving liquid that's worth more than its weight in gold.
To donate plasma you must:
- Be aged 18 to 60 years
- Have donated blood at least once in the last two years with good flow and no adverse reactions
- Meet certain height and weight restrictions
- Have one of these blood groups: O+, A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+ and AB-
- Meet all other donor eligibility criteria
- Be able to donate at one of the seven Donor Centres; Epsom (Auckland), Hamilton, Tauranga, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch or Dunedin.
