Lethbridge Plasma Centre hoping to boost donation numbers

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman on June 16, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

This week is National Blood Donor Week and the Lethbridge Plasma Centre is looking to increase their donor list to help those within the city as well as nation wide.
Business development manager of the Lethbridge Plasma Centre Brenna Scott said the theme for the week is ‘shine a light’.
“We’re really hoping to shine a light on the need for new donors and the need to keep Canada’s lifeline strong. We need about 100,000 new blood, plasma and platelet donors to join Canada’s lifeline this year,” said Scott.
She said that throughout the pandemic the number of people across Canada who donate regularly has decreased by 31,000 donors and this is actually the smallest donor base they have had in a decade.
“We are really using this week to reach out to the community, that they are aware of the need for donors and the need for new donors, to come and donate plasma and support our Canadian Blood Services,” said Scott.
She said in Lethbridge when it comes to donors, they are lucky to have a really great donor base.
“Since we opened in December 2020, we’ve had great donor frequency. We have about 3000 dedicated donors that come to our plasma centre, but we really are looking to increase that number,” said Scott.
She said they have over 600 appointments available each week with over 2,500 available each month.
She said donations collected in Lethbridge will be used for a Canadian patient where needed.
“We’re able to use it all across Canada, so anyone that donates plasma here in Lethbridge it will be used by a Canadian patient here in Canada, it’s always just gone where it’s needed,” said Scott.
She said plasma is used to treat a variety of rare life threatening, chronic and genetic conditions.
“When we collect plasma here in Canada, we’re able to help the thousands of Canadian patients who depend on these lifesaving therapies,” said Scott.
She said they are seeing an urge for donations, specifically in plasma due to an increase in demand for products that are made from the proteins in plasma.
Scott said that anyone who is able to donate whole blood is likely able to donate plasma.
“You do have to be at least 17 years old and at least 110 pounds. One thing with plasma is you’re actually able to donate a lot more frequently. Men are able to donate every seven days and women every 14 days,”
She said the reason for that is because when they collect the plasma, the rest of the blood is returned back to the donor and because of that a person is able to donate plasma a lot more frequently.
“We do say that if you have any kind of certain specific health conditions, or you’re on certain medications, you want to double check that you would be eligible to donate. We always encourage donors to call our 18882DONATE number and we always have a medical team on staff there able to answer any kind of specific health conditions questions,” said Scott.
She said one condition that would not allow a patient to donate is one she has herself, Crohn’s disease.   
Scott said they are looking forward to be able to engage with the community over the summer to increase awareness about the need for plasma donations.
“We will be at the dragon boat festival, and at the Canada Day celebrations at Henderson Lake, as well as at a number of farmers markets. We’re hoping that visibility in the community will really help bring in more donors,” said Scott.
Minister of Health Jason Copping issued a statement on World Blood Donor Day Tuesday that reads in part “Thank you to every Albertan who takes the time to provide blood and plasma products. From emergency departments to operating rooms, to research and producing treatments for rare diseases, none of this life-saving work is possible without the valuable gift from individuals who give blood and plasma. It is truly a humanitarian act of kindness. Sharing blood means sharing life and giving hope to patients and their loved ones. You never know whose life you’ll change or save. Your donation matters.”
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