The Kroonstad branch of the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is calling upon all blood group A and AB donors to donate source plasma. Plasma is the liquid part of blood which red and white blood cells and platelets are floating in. It carries blood components throughout the body and makes up 55% of the total blood volume.
Plasma is essential in saving lives and is needed for the treatment of several illnesses.
Clotting factors, antibodies and proteins in plasma can be used to treat people with rare, chronic diseases and disorders. While a bit of plasma is donated through a normal whole blood donation, donors also have the option of donating just plasma.
Plasma donation takes approximately 90 minutes. The blood is processed through a cell-separating machine that filters out the plasma and returns red blood cells and other cellular components to the donor’s system.
The AB blood group is in high demand because AB plasma is universal and can be used by anyone, regardless of their blood type.
Anyone aged 18 to 65 can donate plasma every two weeks to a maximum of 24 times a year.
The SANBS would like to invite you to become a plasma donor. Interested parties can contact the Kroonstad Blood Donor Centre on 051-400-6890 to book an appointment or receive further information regarding source plasma donation. The Kroonstad Blood Donor Centre, situated at Checkers Kroonstad, operates weekdays from 09:00 to 18:00 and Saturdays from 09:00 to 14:00.
