95bFM More than 7000 new plasma donors needed in the next 12 months
September 6, 2022
By Emily Talbot
The sky tower was lit up gold last night to highlight the sky-high need for plasma donors to help people manage ongoing health conditions. Photo: Sky Tower Fan Club.
The New Zealand Blood Service is urgently calling for plasma donations as demand for plasma exceeds demand for blood.
Asuka Burge from the New Zealand Blood Service told 95bFM's The Wire that they need more than 130,000 donations in the next 12 months to keep up supply.
"We are tracking behind right now, which is why we are asking people to check whether they are eligible to give plasma and consider donating."
Plasma can be made into essential blood products that help patients with cancer, auto-immune diseases, and more.
Burge said the criteria and process for donating plasma is similar to donating blood.
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