Canadian Blood Services has opened it's eighth dedicated plasma centre in St. Catharines
Canadian Blood Services is celebrating the opening of its newest dedicated plasma donor centre.
The centre is located on Vansickle Road in St. Catharines, and is the organization's eighth location dedicated solely to plasma donations.
Plasma is a liquid in blood that helps other blood components circulate throughout the body.
It's used to treat patients with immunodeficiency, autoimmune and neurological disorders, as well as other conditions.
We spoke to Lilet Raffinan, the Manager of Business Development for the centre.
She says there is a great need for plasma across the country.
"The need for plasma is rising year after year," she says. "The need for plasma is four times more than what is actually collected in Canada. So having more plasma centres would mean that we are able to help and address the needs of patients."
Raffinan also notes plasma can be donated every week.
"Plasma is the largest portion of your blood. Fifty-five percent of your blood is plasma, of which 95 percent is water. So you can donate plasma more often than whole blood. Plasma can be given by donors every seven days."
There are a few risks associated with plasma donation, including nausea, bruising and feeling faint.
If you do plan to donate plasma, Raffinan recommends eating a good meal, drinking water and getting enough sleep the night before.
To find out more about donating plasma, click here.
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