Why plasma donations are critical for those in need

JACKSON, Tenn. — It’s International Plasma Awareness Week, and a new survey from the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association has been presented.

Nearly half of Americans who haven’t donated plasma admit they don’t know enough about the donation process.

Only 38% believe that plasma contributes to the development of new treatments, when the development of these therapies is critical to survival and improved quality of life for hundreds of thousands of people.

“For immune deficiencies, it takes hundreds of plasma donations to sustain a patient for just one year,” said Anita Brikman, President & CEO, Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association. “For a bleeding disorder, someone with hemophilia, they may need more than a thousand donations to sustain their treatment for a year. And so, there is such a great need for plasma; and so we hope people hear this and consider donating plasma themselves.”

The survey also states that 79% of people have never donated plasma.

For more local news, click here.