Plasma
for Life
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Donating plasma
Any healthy person who meets our eligibility criteria can donate plasma as frequently as every seven days. To become a plasma donor, having a history of making regular blood donations helps, but is not always necessary.
If your blood type is AB, you are a universal donor for plasma. AB is the most in-demand type of plasma because it can be received by anyone of any blood type. If your blood type is O-negative (O-), you are a universal red blood cell donor and we encourage you to make whole blood donations instead.
What is plasma?
Plasma is the protein-rich liquid in blood that helps other blood components circulate throughout your body. It supports your immune system and helps control excessive bleeding, which is why plasma donations are important to help treat bleeding disorders, liver diseases and many types of cancer. To help you understand what plasma does and why it’s needed, watch this introductory video.
How plasma donation works
The process for donating plasma is largely the same as for whole blood donation. It includes registration, screening, donation and post-donation care. Although some aspects of the plasma screening process may be slightly different, the donation experience will be familiar to blood donors.
If you are interested in donating plasma, we encourage you to book an appointment. Based on your eligibility to donate, and the availability of plasma collection at your closest local donation site, you will be contributing to one of several plasma collection methods:
- recovered plasma: where plasma is separated after a whole blood donation
- apheresis: where the plasma is separated during donation so that red and white blood cells, as well as the platelets, can be put back
It takes as many as four whole blood donations to collect enough plasma for a single plasma treatment. Plasma collected through apheresis is often more efficient, since it is possible to collect a greater volume at each donation from certain donors.
Some of the donated plasma we collect is used to meet the transfusion needs of Canadian patients in hospital. Some of it goes to manufacturers for processing into the life-saving drugs used to treat patients in Canada who suffer from a variety of rare, life-threatening, chronic and genetic conditions.
Plasma for transfusion
How and why your plasma is collected for patients in hospital who need a transfusion is explained in this video.
Plasma for fractionation
How and why your plasma is collected for manufacturing into plasma-derived products is explained in this video.
FAQs
How often can I donate plasma?
You can donate as often as once a week, though if you’re a new plasma donor we recommend starting at once a month.
How long does it take to donate plasma?
Each plasma donation appointment takes about an hour and a half. The apheresis collection is approximately 35 to 45 minutes.
Once I start donating plasma, can I still give blood?
Yes, although we recommend you choose just one type of donation to make regularly. If you do wish to donate both blood and plasma, you need to wait 56 days after either type of donation before making the other.
What if I change my mind about donating plasma?
You may decide to try different donation programs to find which you like best: blood, plasma or platelets.
What if I am not eligible to donate plasma?
Every donation that helps save lives is valuable. Blood is just as important as plasma. We appreciate your generosity and commitment in whatever form you’re able to give. Visit our ways to donate section to learn more.
Plasma sufficiency
As part of our role, Canadian Blood Services is responsible for monitoring the amount of human plasma available to meet the needs of Canadian patients. For some time, we have been seeing a steady increase in the use of and demand for plasma-derived products in Canada and around the globe. By increasing the amount of raw material (source plasma) we collect from donors through our existing infrastructure, as well as making plans to collect more in the future, we are striking the right balance for Canadian patients. We do not plan to pursue 100% sufficiency of supply. In the Canadian context, we believe security of supply requires diversity of supply.
Security of supply
Learn more about the growing demand for plasma protein products and why we must increase the amount available for patients.
Impact of plasma donations
Your donated plasma touches the lives and families of thousands of patients who require life-saving therapies and treatments made from plasma-derived protein products. The plasma we collect goes to patients who need transfusions, as well as to fractionators for manufacturing specialized medicines needed by Canadians with conditions such as bleeding disorders, burns and immunodeficiency.