Plasma Donor Health Protection: Mapping Current Practices Through an International Survey

With rising demands for plasma-derived medicinal products (PDMPs), the pressure on plasma donors is increasing. Donation practices vary worldwide and depend on differing guidelines. However, an inventory of current international practices is still lacking. Here, we assess plasma donor health protection practices across blood establishments in Europe and North America. We distributed an online survey about plasmapheresis procedures and donor health protection measures to representatives of plasma collecting organizations. Between March and June 2023, we received 20 responses from 19 countries to an online survey distributed via the European Blood Alliance and social media. Plasma is collected via plasmapheresis by 17 organizations, which were included for analysis. The typical donor is required to be aged 18 to 65 at registration, have a minimum weight of 50 kg, have suitable veins for plasmapheresis, and be in good general health. The maximum plasmapheresis frequency ranges from 12 to 104 donations annually (mode = 26). Predonation hemoglobin or hematocrit levels are assessed by 15 of 17 organizations. All organizations measure total protein, and 7 organizations include immunoglobulin G levels (both primarily in new donors and annually). Many plasma donor health protection practices are similar across organizations. Most nonprofit organizations seem to employ conservative donation frequencies (maximum annual frequency <34). Organizations allowing more frequent donations generally combine this with more frequent biomarker measurements. To conclude, our study provides insights into international plasma donation practices. These findings support efforts to establish more uniform policies while meeting the growing plasma demand and maintaining donor health.