Catalonia needs 65,000 plasma donations per year for treatments

A total of 8,000 people have made 14,287 plasma donations during this year, an amount that is still far from the 65,000 annual donations that Catalonia needs to guarantee the treatments for the patients diagnosed with immunodeficiencies.

On the occasion of the World Plasma Donation Week, the Banc de Sang i Teixits has highlighted this Monday that, with 65,000 donations, there would be enough plasma to obtain proteins and to make drugs that are vital for some patients.

This is the case of Neus, who suffers from an immunodeficiency and needs, every year, the plasma obtained from 288 donations.

To increase donations, the Banc de Sang has launched a plan that should make it possible to reduce dependence on other countries, with which Catalonia compensates for the lack of its own donors.

Double the number of donations

In recent years, donations have nearly doubled from 13,800 in 2017 to the 25,000 expected to end this 2022, but there is still some way to go.

Thus, to try to improve the figures even more, next October 6, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., we are organizing a Plasma Donation Marathon at the Barcelona City Hall coinciding with the World Plasma Donation Week.

Plasma is practically all water, which is why, unlike blood, it can be donated much more frequently, as it recovery is very fast.

In fact, it can occur every 15 days and about twenty people in Catalonia donate plasma at least once a month.

Generally speaking, anyone who donates blood can donate plasma: you must be between 18 and 70 years old, weigh more than 50 kilos and be in good health.

Plasma is a clear, slightly yellowish liquid. which represents 55% of the total blood volume and in it are suspended the blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

It is made up of water (90%), mineral salts and a large amount of proteins that ensure the proper functioning of the body.

In order to be able to give plasma, it is necessary to connect to a machine, a cell separator, which retains this liquid and returns to the body the red blood cells.The donation lasts between 45 and 60 minutes and the donor must have somewhat thicker veins than to donate blood.