NHS Blood and Transplant urges people to donate their blood plasma – which will be used to make antibody-based medicines called immunoglobulins, for people with weak immune systems and a variety of other rare disorders. Thousands of patients rely on immunoglobulin medicines for short-term treatment or lifelong diseases.
NHS Blood and Transplant are particularly asking for men between the ages of 17 and 66 to consider donating, because they are more likely to have the blood plasma volumes and larger vein sizes. Donating plasma take about 45 minutes and is completely safe. During the process the plasma is filtered out of circulating blood by an apheresis machine and the red blood cells are returned to the donor. It is possible to donate as often as every two weeks and a maximum of 24 donations per year.
To find out more about blood plasma donation click here
Your nearest Plasma donor centres are:
Manchester Blood Donation Centre, Plymouth Grove, Manchester, M13 9LL or
NHSBT Bolton Plasma Donor Centre, 120 Bark St, Bolton BL1 2AX.
To become a blood plasma donor contact 0300 123 2323.