New plasma donor centre sees `amazing' response

In just a month since opening a new plasma donation facility in Windsor, Canadian Blood Services said it's experienced an “amazing ” community response.

The Plasma Donor Centre located at 3015 Howard Ave — the organization's ninth site across Canada — launched on Jan. 15, following the closure of CBS'S blood clinic on Grand Marais Road East last July.

The plasma-specific donation centre focuses on the collection of the protein-rich, light-amber liquid in blood that helps transport nutrients, hormones, and proteins throughout the body.

“The response has been amazing,” said Judy Jones, the organization's associate director of donor recruitment. “We've had some great donors come in already and donate and try to learn more about plasma.

“So, we're really excited about the response. Right now, a lot of people are just learning and we have the opportunity to explain to them about the need for plasma.”

One piece of information that donors learn, said Jones, is that they can donate more frequently due to plasma's rapid regeneration rate.

“Because plasma regenerates within 48 hours, you're able to donate every seven days,” said Jones.

“There are a couple donors that come every week. The majority of people are finding that it's an easy thing to add into a monthly routine.”

At the previous whole-blood donation centre — which took every component of the blood, including plasma, white blood cells, platelets and red blood cells — donors had significantly longer wait times to donate.

Men were required to wait 56 days, while women had to wait 84 days between donations.

The new Windsor donor clinic only takes plasma, with the other components returned to the donor.

“Canadian Blood Services is supporting the growth of the collections of plasma within Canada,” said Jones. “We want to utilize Canadian donors to help support Canadian patients.”

Jones said new donors are encouraged to set aside 90 minutes when coming to the centre for the first time so they can ask questions and tour the facility.

The process closely resembles that of whole-blood donations. Donors begin with a questionnaire and screening, followed by measurements of their height and weight to determine the amount they can donate.

The plasma donation itself takes approximately 30 to 35 minutes, about 10 to 15 minutes longer than a whole-blood donation.

Afterwards, donors can relax and enjoy snacks.

The Plasma Donor Centre officially marked its opening on Jan. 28. Visit the Canada Blood Services website to learn more and to book an appointment at Windsor's Plasma Donor Centre.

WHAT IS PLASMA?

About 55 per cent of human blood is plasma, which supports your immune system and helps transport other blood components through your body.

According to Canadian Blood Services, this fluid “can be transfused directly into patients in urgent situations, such as severe infection and excessive bleeding, or it can be manufactured into medications.”