NEW ‘female friendly’ plasma donation machines have seen a surge in donors according to a Kings Road-based medical centre.
The new technology was installed in July, and there are now 623 donors, up from 100 before they were put into use.
The experts behind them say they are female friendly because they take out a smaller amount of blood at a time and filter out the plasma faster. This makes it safe for smaller and slighter people to donate.
The increase is boosting donations of plasma, which is made into a medicine called immunoglobulin, which saves lives by strengthening or stabilising the immune system.
Around 750 people from the Thames Valley receive immunoglobulin each year.
NHS Blood and Transplant has been directed to take donations to bolster long term immunoglobulin supplies to NHS hospitals in the face of international supply pressures.
England relied on imported immunoglobulin for more than 20 years as a precaution against vCJD but the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said last year that plasma from UK donors can again be used for immunoglobulin.
Paula Ussher, manager of the Reading plasma donor centre, said: “These new machines have transformed how many females can donate.
“They are faster and take less blood at a time, so many more people meet the new rules on height and weight.
“Please register to donate plasma – you have a medicine in you which will save lives.”
For more details, log on to: www.blood.co.uk/plasma or search ‘donate plasma’.
