Plasma donor health in the spotlight: new research and international media attention

21/09/26

How often can plasma be donated while adequately protecting donor health? 

As part of the SUPPLY project, we co-authored a new peer-reviewed publication that provides an international overview of how plasma-collecting organizations protect their donors. The study shows substantial variation between countries and organizations, particularly in maximum donation frequency, biomarker monitoring such as IgG and total protein, and the use of saline infusion. Donation limits ranged from 12 to 104 donations per year, illustrating the lack of a uniform, evidence-based approach. We concluded that high-quality research is needed to establish clearer and more harmonized donor-health protection practices while meeting the growing demand for plasma-derived medicines. 

The importance of this evidence gap was also highlighted recently by the Winnipeg Free Press. Following the deaths of two plasma donors in Winnipeg after donations at privately operated collection sites - deaths for which Health Canada has said no causal link with plasma donation has been shown - the newspaper examined questions surrounding high-frequency plasma donation. In Canada, some private-sector donors may donate up to twice a week, or 104 times per year. 

As part of their publication, our coordinating researcher Hans Van Remoortel was interviewed about the scientific evidence underlying these practices. He discussed findings from the Belgian Red Cross-Flanders randomized controlled trial (RCT) and the SUPPLY systematic review, emphasizing that evidence on the long-term health consequences of very frequent plasma donation remains limited. The RCT found substantial reductions in IgG among donors donating twice weekly, while the systematic review informed SUPPLY's precautionary recommendation of a maximum of two donations per month. 

Together, the new international survey and the scientific evidence discussed in the Canadian media point to the same key message: as demand for plasma grows, increasing collection must go hand in hand with robust evidence and effective measures to safeguard donor health.