Call for help goes out to universal plasma donors

New Zealand Blood Service is contacting universal plasma donors to help replenish stocks after the Whakaari/White Island eruption.

Up to 21 survivors are being treated in burns units across the country and seven have returned to Australia.

While there was no immediate shortage of blood or plasma owing to the eruption, there was always a need for more plasma donors, said NZBlood spokeswoman Asuka Burge. ‘‘There has been a high usage of AB + blood type so we’ve contacted some of our AB FFP [fresh frozen plasma] donors to ask whether they can donate to replenish our stocks.’’

Three per cent of Kiwis have AB+ blood type, making them universal plasma donors. (AB+ plasma can be transfused into patients who have any other ABO blood type.)

People wanting to donate for the first time should check their eligibility online, Burge said. Age, height and weight restrictions apply. Only after donating blood can someone be assessed as a potential plasma donor.

While blood can be donated at mobile blood drives, plasma donations can only be made at centres in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin.

Plasma is the liquid part of blood containing clotting, immune and other proteins. It is used to treat people who have lost a lot of blood or to help boost the immune systems of people who are sick or have had major operations. During plasma donations, the donor’s blood is collected, separated into red blood cells, plasma and platelets, before the red blood cells and platelets are returned using a process called apheresis.

Both men and women can donate plasma but only men can donate fresh frozen plasma.