Help save lives, donate plasma

THE Hillcrest Blood Donor Centre has urged the community to also consider donating plasma when they make their normal blood donation.

The centre, situated at the Colony Shopping Centre (50 Old Main Road, Hillcrest) moved to Shop 20, Colony Shopping Centre on Wednesday, 22 July.

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Donor relations practitioner, Neelashan Govender said the new clinic offers ample space and will incorporate whole blood and plasma donations.

Govender said plasma is the liquid part of the blood in which the red cells, white cells and platelets are suspended.

“It carries these components throughout the body and makes up 55 per cent of your total blood volume,” he said.

He pleaded with the public to donate a bit of plasma when they make a normal whole blood donation, but said people can also just donate plasma only.

“This is done through a process called plasmapheresis or source plasma donation where plasma is separated and collected while the red cells, white cells and platelets are returned to your body,” explained Govender.

He added that plasma can be donated every two weeks to a maximum of 24 times a year.

Why donate plasma?

Govender commented that plasma is essential to saving lives.

“Clotting factors, antibodies and proteins in plasma can be isolated and concentrated into various essential medicinal products used to treat people with rare, chronic diseases and disorders such as haemophilia, primary immunodeficiency, genetic lung diseases, severe burns, trauma and shock.”

Who should donate plasma?

Although anyone who meets normal donation criteria can donate plasma, Govender said they specifically need blood group A and AB donors aged 18 to 65 years to consider donating this special source plasma. Blood group AB Plasma is in high demand.

“The reason for this is that group AB plasma is universal; therefore it can be used by anyone regardless of their blood group,” he said.

What is the process for donating plasma?

“A person who wish to donate will undergo the normal screening process for blood donation which includes completing the donor questionnaire, having a one on one interview with a SANBS staff member and a mini medical which includes blood pressure, pulse, haemoglobin and weight assessment. Once accepted a high tech machine is used to safely and quickly collect your plasma.”

“A needle is placed on the vein of your arm and blood is collected using a sterile plasma collection set. The plasma collection set is disposable and is used only once. Your red blood cells, platelets and white blood cells are returned to you and at the end of the procedure some saline (sterile salt water) is infused into you to compensate for the around 650ml of plasma be collect. The duration of the whole process is about an hour,” said Govender.

People who wish to donate or find out more information can contact Sr Ingrid Marlton on 031 719 6724/5.

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