Management of plasmapheresis in Italy

In Italy, under current legislation, blood collection and productive plasmapheresis are managed by the National Health Service, either directly or indirectly. Donation is voluntary and unpaid. The promotion of donation is addressed to the whole of the population and the organization of periodical donors in associations is encouraged. Donor selection aims at guaranteeing the utmost security of both donors and recipients. Selection procedures are specified by law. Private industries fractionate the source plasma into derivatives. The National Blood and Plasma Plan has an objective to reach an availability of 2,280,000 units of whole blood (i.e. 40 units/1,000 inhabitants) and of 800,000 1 of plasma/annum. At present, whole blood collection covers over 80% of national needs, while plasma production satisfies over 60% of national needs. Self sufficiency in blood and plasma has not so far been achieved. In 1994 the amount of apheresis plasma covers 30% of the amount necessary to achieve self sufficiency. In Italy the technology for plasma collection by apheresis is already adequate in order to reach the above-mentioned objective. On the other hand, in order to reach self-sufficiency, the number of donors undergoing apheresis procedures seems completely insufficient, thus indicating that the priority objective should be the recruitment of new plasma donors.