Plasma Donation Is Vital. Donors Still Need Protection.

Despite being the lesser known component of blood, plasma gives our blood its liquid quality and equals a little over half of its total volume. It carries cells to help them fulfill their functions, maintains blood pressure and delivers important nutrients to where they are needed most.

For almost a century, humans have perpetuated the practice of donating plasma. Over this period, scientists have realized an important distinction: these donations are not optional but, in truth, necessary to healthcare infrastructure.

Today, the demand for blood plasma stems primarily from its usage in manufacturing medications for immune deficiencies and devastating autoimmune diseases. A thousand different donors may contribute to a singular plasma protein product.

In life-threatening circumstances involving hemorrhagic shock — a condition caused by severe blood loss that leads to insufficient oxygen delivery to vital organs, civilian guidelines demand an immediate transfusion of plasma to ensure the appropriate ratio between plasma and red blood cells. A study conducted by the Prehospital Air Medical Plasma (PAMPer) multicenter clinical trial revealed that the prehospital administration of plasma yields a 30-day mortality of 23.2 percent. This number increases to 33 percent for patients who waited upon reaching the hospital to receive the needed transfusions.

Allow me to walk you through the process of plasma donation from a staff member’s perspective. Keep in mind that high-frequency donors undergo this hour-long process three times every two weeks.

• Check blood pressure, pulse and temperature to ensure health
• Insert a needle into an accessible vein
• Watch as the blood is drawn into a plasmapheresis device
• The device separates the plasma from the other components of blood, returning them to the patient’s body

Naturally, patients are warned of common side effects after donating, such as dizziness, fatigue and minor bruising. These effects appear harmless, a sentiment that is reflected by the short intervals mandated between donations, only 48 hours.

Although all donors are made aware of the list of side effects prior to the operation, awareness does not simply negate risk. The more serious possible effects are too often glossed over, especially since they can appear delayed at times.

Lurking long-term outcomes may also be being overlooked. High-frequency donors through plasmapheresis can experience a reduction of total plasma proteins and immunoglobulins, which are essential to protect the body from infections.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a statement warning against another aspect of plasma donation — establishments offer the infusion of plasma from young donors to older patients, claiming counter-effects to memory loss and age-related impairments. These claims remain unproven. Addressing this topic, the FDA highlights that “the infusion of plasma can be associated with infectious, allergic, respiratory, and cardiovascular risks”

Two plasma donors in Canada died in late 2025 and early 2026 following their donations at for-profit clinics. During investigations into their deaths conducted by health officials, the Spanish health care company that runs the clinics, named Grifols, denied all correlation. In contrast, Stephanie Holfeld, the executive director of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Manitoba, said one of the victims had become unresponsive during the donation at the clinic. Still, fatalities due to inadequate plasmapheresis machines are largely uncommon.

While this optimistic opinion dominates local and international perspectives on plasma donation, clinics and researchers have not delved into negative health effects to the same extent as other public medical practices. The practice has not been entirely perfected, and neglect can cause more serious detrimental results on donors’ health. These small machine errors have grave repercussions, including acute kidney injury, which allegedly occurred to a donor in Winnipeg.

Cutting corners in health care has never historically ended well. Plasma donations is still, for the most part, a safe procedure, but we cannot take the wonders it provides for granted. Recent news about these deaths and other controversies reveal one story that needs to be amplified. Instead of brushing off medical shortcomings, we can remain attentive, be grateful for current technology, and use these tools to positively influence more lives.

Remember that not all clinics offer the same level of competence as one another, and we should prioritize finding a trusted clinic or establishment. While the process of plasma donation is vital to the public, it requires stronger protection for donors.