The French Blood Establishment (EFS) has just launched on October 17 its first campaign dedicated to plasma donation, a donation unfortunately unknown to the general public, but nevertheless vital for many patients. The lighting of Martin Ducret, doctor and journalist at Doctor’s Daily.
franceinfo: First of all, before talking about plasma donation, what is plasma?
It is the liquid part of the blood in which bathe the blood cells, which are the red blood cells, the white blood cells and the platelets. Plasma is mainly composed of water but also contains proteins such as albumin or immunoglobulins, which are also called antibodies (which are soldiers who fight against foreign agents in the body)
Why collect only plasma? A classic blood donation is not enough?
And no, during a “classic” blood donation, a total of 3 blood components are collected: red blood cells, platelets and plasma. Whereas in a plasma donation, only the plasma is collected. It allows to recover 2 to 4 times more than in a classic blood donation.
Plasma is used to treat thousands of people each year, for example severe burn victims or patients with immune deficiencies. And this, thanks to plasma transfusions or drugs produced from proteins extracted from plasma.
Unfortunately there are not enough donors, hence this plasma donation campaign?
Yes indeed. Plasma donation is still largely unknown to the general public, and also to conventional blood donors. 2/3 of plasma stocks come from abroad, mainly from the United States. Supplies are limited, which regularly leads to shortages, especially of immunoglobulins.
With this campaign, the EFS wants to massively increase its plasma stocks. Its objective is to reduce our dependence on the foreign market, and above all, to be able to treat in time all patients whose plasma is essential to their health.
Who can donate plasma and where?
Anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who weighs more than 55 kg. It is carried out by appointment only in the EFS donation centers, everywhere in metropolitan France. Namely that donating plasma is less tiring than donating blood, but takes longer. It lasts about 1 hour. All information on plasma donation is available on the website of the French Blood Establishment.