THE READING Donor Centre has upgraded its blood plasma donation machines to new “female-friendly” models.
Three new machines have been installed, with six further to be installed soon.
Previously, blood plasma donation was severely restricted by the design of donation machines, which had specific requirements of height and weight criteria.
These restrictive criteria ruled out most women from making donations, with just 7% of the centre’s 1600 donors being female as a result.
The new machines, however will operate with criteria much closer to those of most women.
Previous apparatus required women of 5ft 4ins tall to weigh at least 12 stone 8lbs to be eligible for donation.
Now, a woman of the same height need only weigh 9 stone to be able to donate.
The outdated machines were designed to be used to take a number of blood-based donations, but newer models are dedicated to plasma donation.
They have also shorted the duration of the procedure to 35 minutes from 45, and some donors have reported that the newer machines are also more comfortable.
Paula Ussher, Reading Plasma Donor Centre manager, said: “Our new plasma donation machines are female friendly, enabling almost twice as many women to save lives by giving plasma.
“We know some women were disappointed because we had to turn them away before. Now, more people than ever can donate.
“Please register to donate plasma – you have a medicine in you which will save lives.”
Blood Plasma is used to make immunoglobulin, a medicine which uses antibodies to stabilise or strengthen the immune system.
This helps people with a number of rare disorders which attack or weaken the immune system, such as Lupus, Myositis, and Multiple Sclerosis.
NHS Blood and Transplant figures show that around 750 in the Thames Valley are treated with immunoglobulin annually, making up on fifth of those treated in the South.
Allison Brown, from Woodley in Berkshire, has donated Reading Donor Centre with both machines, and said: “The new machines are so much better– they are faster and seem better for female veins because you don’t need the blood pressure cuff as much.
“I know the NHS needs plasma more and more– it helps that the team at the donor centre are really friendly.”
To register for plasma donations, visit: www.blood.co.uk
