Maitland Blood Donor Centre calls for more plasma donations this October

Plasma is vital for a growing number of patients who rely on it for the treatment of cancer, immune disorders, haemophilia, trauma, and kidney disease.

One of the products from plasma, 'Intragam P', is used to treat patients with immune deficiency disorders who usually require life-long treatment.

According to the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, it takes around 8 to 10 plasma donations to provide enough Intragam P to treat just one adult patient every month.

Also in the news:

More than 12,000 patients need plasma medicines and transfusions every month across Australia, and many of them are clinically vulnerable people who have been shielded during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lifeblood spokesperson, Brian Bruce said more Maitland locals are donating plasma than ever before, but despite this more plasma donors are required to get patients through treatment.

"We owe an enormous thank you to Maitland locals who donated plasma during the pandemic and ensured that Australian patients continued to receive the plasma and plasma medications they needed," he said.

Plasma donation can be given as often as every 2 weeks, and takes around 45 minutes.

To make an appointment or learn more about donating plasma, call 13 14 95 or visit lifeblood.com.au

Do you know you can subscribe to get full access to all Maitland Mercury stories? Subscribing supports us in our local news coverage. To subscribe, click here.