Plasma Donation Stats
February 28, 2023
Plasma donation can seem like a confusing process, so we’re breaking down the facts, stats and numbers to paint a clear picture of how your plasma donation directly impacts patients in need.
Breaking Down the Numbers:
You might be surprised to learn that it takes 130 plasma donations to treat one person with primary immunodeficiency for one year! That’s why it’s so important to donate plasma consistently, especially given the current plasma shortage, as patients who receive plasma treatments rely on donors for source plasma.
What are the Diseases that Plasma is Used to Treat?
Did you know that it takes 465 plasma donations to treat someone with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy for one year? If you glazed over the name of that disease, here’s a quick recap: chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy is a regressive neurological disorder that reduces senses in the arms and legs. Some of the symptoms include:
- Tingling or no feeling in fingers and toes
- Weakness of arms and legs
- Loss of deep tendon (muscle stretch) reflexes
- Fatigue or feeling tired
- Unusual feelings in the body
Plasma is also used to treat alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, a condition that increases your risk of contracting lung or liver disease. It takes 900 plasma donation to treat one person with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency for one year!
Treating Bleeding Disorders with Plasma
Plasma is also used to treat bleeding disorders as well as autoimmune disorders. IT takes 1,200 plasma donation to treat one patient with hemophilia for one year. Hemophilia is an inherited blood disorder in which a person’s blood doesn’t clot properly. Due to plasma’s clotting properties, it can help to manage someone with hemophilia’s symptoms.
It takes 10-40 donations to create a single dose of one of the serum proteins that plasma is turned into, gamma globulin! Gamma globulin is used to treat immunodeficiency conditions.
The Importance of Plasma Donation
Needless to say, source plasma’s uses are integral to the health of patients with a variety of immunedeficiency and bleeding disorders, as well as trauma patients! We hope that examining the facts and stats surrounding plasma donation clarified its importance – and why it’s crucial that you donate plasma consistently! Book your next plasma donation appointment today to help patients in need.
