janvier 4, 2021

Paid plasma donations are largely responsible for the creation of plasma therapies. In fact, compensated plasma accounts for 89% of all the world’s plasma that is used to manufacture plasma-derived products. It’s statistics like these that motivate us to continue to pave the way for paid plasma donations in Canada.

If you’re interested in learning how you can earn up to $4,680/year as a plasma donor at DB Plasma, keep reading to find out!

Donate Plasma Consistently

With our donor compensation program, donors get rewarded with more compensation the more they donate! All donors who give plasma at DB Plasma start at Orange level. At this level, donors earn $30 for their first donation of the week and $50 for their second donation of the week.

Donors who have given plasma twice per week for two consecutive weeks move on to Silver level. Silver level donors are eligible to receive $30 for their first donation of the week and $55 for their second donation of the week.

The highest level donors can reach is Gold level. Donors attain this status after they’ve given plasma twice per week for two more consecutive weeks (following the initial two consecutive weeks). These two weeks of consecutive donations do not need to occur back to back. Gold level donors are eligible to receive $30 for their first donation of the week and $60 for their second donation of the week!

Refer a Friend

Another great way to earn additional compensation is by referring a friend or family member to donate plasma! Donors who refer a friend or family member to donate plasma are eligible to receive a $25 bonus so long as the referee follows through on the donation. Here’s how the donor referral process works:

1. Send a text message, WhatsApp message, Facebook message, Instagram DM or Twitter DM to the person you’re referring.

2. Include your full name in the message

3. Have the referee show the message to our reception staff after they donate.

We’re also offering referees the opportunity to earn a one time $50 bonus if they start donating by November 29^th!

Participate in Events

At DB Plasma, we regularly hold events that give donors the opportunity to earn a monetary bonus if they meet certain donation criteria. To make sure you don’t miss out on opportunities to earn additional compensation, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter and keep an eye out for our announcements!

We’ve seen firsthand just how beneficial paying plasma donors can be for both donors and patients alike. To contribute to a good cause and make money all the while, book your next plasma donation appointment!

janvier 4, 2021

Plasma donation is an incredible process that is responsible for the creation of several life-altering therapies. Millions of people around the world donate plasma every year, and the highly controlled, clinical environments where plasma donations take place are required to abide by strict regulatory requirements to keep donors safe. That being said, there are new safety concerns that have arisen for plasma donors since the arrival of COVID-19.

At DB Plasma, we’ve continually revised our precautionary measures to reflect the current status of COVID-19. Without further ado, here’s how we’ve altered the plasma donation process at our centres to keep donors safe during this unprecedented time.

Step 1: Registering

The registration portion of the donation process is where we confirm the eligibility of new donors and perform preliminary health checks. For first-time plasma donors, the registration process typically takes 25 minutes, and during this time they:

·  Present valid identification

·  Complete a questionnaire

·  Review educational material

·  Review the consent form

·  Undergo preliminary blood pressure and temperature checks

This process gets easier and faster for return donors, who usually only spend 10 minutes in registration. To minimize contact between donors and staff and ensure safe physical distancing, we’ve put plexiglass barriers at our reception desks and asked donors not to enter our centres more than five minutes before their appointment time. We’ve also increased the frequency with which we clean donor folders and our staff now wear gloves at all times.

Step 2: Screening

To ensure donors are in good health and eligible to give plasma, all of our donors undergo a screening prior to donating. Similarly to the registration process, first-time donors spend approximately 25 minutes being screened while return donors spend roughly 10 minutes being screened. Donors undergo a physical examination, review registration information with a medical professional, participate in a question and answer session, and confirm consent when being screened.

All of our screening staff are required to wear masks during this stage of the plasma donation process. They also diligently clean all of the equipment in our screening rooms after every screening.

Step 3: Donating Plasma

Once a donor has been given the green light to donate, they are escorted to a donor bed, prepped for donation, and connected to an apheresis machine. All of the beds in our donation halls are spread apart so that donors can safely give plasma six feet away from one another. During the venipuncture procedure, where staff access a donor’s vein in order to subsequently extract plasma via plasmapheresis, donors are asked to breathe away from staff members to avoid close contact. We’ve also asked our donors to refrain from walking around, speaking with other donors, and talking on their phones when they are in our donation halls.

Donors are continuously monitored by staff during plasmapheresis to ensure everything is going smoothly. When they are finished with plasmapheresis, which usually takes 50 minutes to complete, the beds and apheresis machines that were used are thoroughly cleaned.

Step 4: Relaxing

The last part of the plasma donation process involves relaxing, enjoying snacks and refreshments in our waiting rooms, and scheduling your next appointment. To minimize contact, we’ve moved all snacks behind our reception desks. Donors now have to ask reception staff for snacks and refreshments.

All seating in our waiting rooms has been set up for physical distancing. We’ve added signage to split up our waiting rooms and minimize the amount of cross traffic. One side is now designated for donors who have just been registered while the other side is for donors who have just finished donating or are waiting to donate.

Keeping our donors and staff safe has always been our top priority at DB Plasma, and we will continue to do everything in our power to make everyone feel comfortable. Giving plasma is more important now than ever before, and together we can help provide vulnerable patients with the treatments they need. Book your next appointment today! 

décembre 22, 2020

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a rare autoimmune disorder that targets the body’s nerves. It is the most common form of chronic autoimmune neuropathy, and it is one of many disorders that can be treated using plasma products. Keep reading to learn more about CIDP and how blood plasma is used to manage this condition.

Symptoms of CIDP

Symptoms of CIDP progress slowly and occur over the course of at least two months. Chief symptoms of CIDP can include:

• Impaired motor function
• Loss of balance and your ability to walk
• Loss of sensation in your arms and legs
• Loss of reflexes
• Tingling sensations or in your arms and legs
• The gradual weakening of your arms and legs

Other symptoms may include burning, clumsiness, pain, fatigue, difficulty swallowing, and double vision. 

Causes of CIDP

Anyone can get CIDP, but people in their 50s and 60s are more likely to develop it. Men are also twice as likely as women to get this autoimmune disorder. Experts haven’t identified why people get CIDP, but what is known is that it is caused by inflammation of the nerves and nerve roots.

When someone has CIDP, their body’s immune system attacks the myelin sheaths, which are the protective covering around nerve cells. This can damage nerve fibres and impair the nerves’ ability to send signals.

Diagnosis of CIDP

CIDP is a rare disorder, which means it can be difficult to diagnose. There’s no test available that diagnosis CIDP, so doctors typically ask patients questions about their symptoms and conduct a thorough physical examination. Doctors may also do blood and urine tests, a nerve conduction study or a lumbar puncture, which is a procedure that involves extracting a small sample of your cerebrospinal fluid in an effort to detect elevated levels of specific proteins that are associated with CIDP.

Healthcare providers sometimes confuse symptoms of CIDP with those of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), which is another illness that causes nerve problems. However, unlike GBS, CIDP isn’t brought on by an illness. CIDP also tends to be a longer-term problem.

Treatment of CIDP

Early treatment is extremely important for patients who have CIDP, and it is critical to preventing irreversible damage. The sooner a patient begins treatment, the better their chances are of a full recovery. Common treatments for CIDP include steroids, plasma exchange (plasmapheresis), and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg).

Plasma exchange is used to remove immune system proteins that may be contributing to nerve damage from the blood. This treatment method has proven to be effective in up to 80% of patients.

Intravenous immunoglobulin, which is a plasma product composed of antibodies from donors, is used to mitigate the effects of an individual’s immune response. It is most effective in patients who have had symptoms of CIDP for less than a year and/or present acute symptoms of the disorder. IVIg is often used in combination with steroid treatments.

CIDP is a disorder that exemplifies just how life-changing plasma products can be. With early intervention, patients can lead relatively normal lives and avoid permanent physical impairments. If you’d like to help create therapies for patients in need, book an appointment at DB Plasma today! Every donation helps.

septembre 25, 2020

It’s officially been over half a year since the world went into lockdown and COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic. A lot has happened since then, and we’ve all had to adapt to the social distancing, mask-wearing, and sanitation practices that are required during this unprecedented time. We’ve also learned a lot more about the nature of this novel coronavirus, but with that said, we’re still a long way away from finding a vaccine. To date, convalescent plasma remains at the forefront of potential treatment options that can be made readily available.

In today’s blog, we’ll be unpacking what early convalescent plasma studies have revealed about its efficacy against COVID-19.

What Is Convalescent Plasma?

Convalescent plasma is the term used for plasma, the yellow, protein-rich component of blood, that is collected from an individual who has recovered from a virus. It is a treatment method that has been used during epidemics for more than 110 years, and the scientific community has been exploring the viability of it since the emergence of COVID-19.

The idea behind convalescent plasma therapy as a potential treatment for COVID-19 is that individuals who have recovered from the virus now have an acquired immunity to it due to the presence of virus-specific antibodies in their plasma. These antibodies are specifically designed to fight the pathogen, and when they are transferred from recovered patients to sick patients, they provide them with passive immunity.

Emerging Evidence of Convalescent Plasma Efficacy for COVID-19

During the early days of the pandemic, a small study in China revealed that five critically ill COVID-19 patients who were treated with convalescent plasma all recovered after receiving treatment. Although no conclusive evidence could be drawn from this study, it was an early sign of hope, and since then numerous larger studies have been conducted.

One such study that has shown even more promise is Houston Methodist’s ongoing study of 350 patients that have been treated with convalescent plasma. This study tracked critically ill COVID-19 patients who were admitted to Houston Methodist’s system of eight hospitals over a period of 28 days from March 28th to July 6th. It measured the medical effectiveness of transfusing severely ill COVID-19 patients with convalescent plasma by comparing them to a similar group of COVID-19 patients who did not receive treatment. 

The study found that therapies administered within 72 hours of hospitalization provided the most effective results and reduced mortality rates. Patients treated with convalescent plasma early in their illness were more likely to survive and recover than patients who did not receive treatments.

A Cautiously Optimistic Outlook

There are dozens of studies similar to the Houston Methodist study taking place worldwide, and Canadian researchers are leading the world’s largest convalescent plasma therapy trial for COVID-19, which involves more than 1,000 patients. While there is emerging evidence that convalescent plasma is a safe and effective treatment for COVID-19, it will take a while to generate sufficient data to confirm these findings. With that said, in due time results from prospective and well-controlled randomized trials will provide us with the answers we need.

At DB Plasma, we’ve joined forces with world-leading plasma companies to help manufacture a potential treatment for COVID-19 and contribute to clinical trials that will help determine the efficacy of convalescent plasma. To learn more about how your plasma can potentially help COVID-19 patients, visit the COVID-19 program page on our website.

août 27, 2020

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is a life-saving treatment manufactured from human plasma. It is used to treat a host of rare and chronic conditions, some of which include primary immune deficiency diseases (PIDDs), Kawasaki disease, and hereditary angioedema. IVIG has come a long way since it was first used in 1952, and today it is a widely-used product that is considered to be safe. Here’s a look at how IVIG therapy came to be.

Fractionation and Intramuscular Immune Globulin (IMIG)

There are several scientific discoveries and events that contributed to the creation of IVIG treatments. One notable discovery that helped make IVIG treatments possible is plasma fractionation, the process of separating the various components in blood plasma.

The invention of fractionation was born out of necessity during WWII. Countless American soldiers were bleeding out on the battlefield and going into shock before they had the chance to receive medical aid. Dr. Edwin J. Cohn, a biochemist and protein scientist, stepped in to help and figured out a way to individually separate the proteins in human plasma so that albumin, the chief protein constituent of plasma, could be quickly administered and increase blood volume.

In 1941, Dr. Cohn was commissioned by the Department of the Navy to develop a large-scale fractionation process to separate albumin from plasma. More than 2 million units of albumin were manufactured as a result of his invention and purified immune globulin treatments were made possible. The first human immune globulin treatments were intramuscular immune globulin (IMIG) injections that were extremely painful when administered, but life-altering for immunocompromised patients nonetheless.

First Generation IVIGs

The first generation of IVIGs came to be after Dr. Ogden Bruton, an Army lieutenant colonel and practicing pediatrician, successfully administered immune globulin as a subcutaneous treatment to an 8-year-old boy who had congenital agammaglobulinemia. Dr. Charles A. Janeway Jr., an immunologist from Harvard School of Medicine, subsequently used Bruton’s work to establish IM dosages of immune globulins as a treatment for primary immune deficiency (PIDD) patients. These immune globulin injections became a standard treatment for PIDD patients between 1950 and 1960.

By 1970, the first generation of intravenous immune globulins were created and patients were able to receive large amounts of immune globulin for the first time, which resulted in fewer infections for PIDD patients. IVIG treatments were also found to be effective against previously untreatable diseases, like Kawasaki syndrome.

Second Generation IVIGs

The first generation of IVIGs were far from perfect and the use of pepsin, a naturally occurring enzyme, to break apart proteins decreased the immune globulin activity. Thankfully, by the mid-1980s they were able to figure out a way to use sugars and amino acids to make the products more tolerable in large doses, which meant patients could receive large quantities of IVIGs with fewer associated side effects. 

Third Generation IVIGs

To improve the safety of IVIGs and prevent the possibility of virus transmission, steps such as solvent-detergent and pasteurization were added to the third generation of IVIGs. These effectively destroyed harmful viruses and unwanted organisms, making the treatment even safer. This manufacturing practice became the new standard in the 1990s. 

Fourth Generation IVIGs

The IVIGs that are available today are fourth generation IVIGs. They are safer and better tolerated than prior generations, and they are used to treat patients with rare diseases around the world. 

IVIG treatments have drastically improved over the years and their safety and efficacy have made it possible for immunocompromised patients can receive the treatments they need with minimal risk. To help create this life-changing product for patients in need, book your next appointment at a DB Plasma centre near you. Every donation makes a difference in someone’s life.

août 21, 2020

Plasma donation is a fulfilling experience from start to finish. Not only does this act of kindness help patients in need, but there are also many positive aspects of plasma donation for donors themselves. If you’re thinking about becoming a donor, these 5 benefits of donating plasma should be taken into consideration!

1. Compensation

At DB Plasma, we compensate our donors to show our appreciation for the time and effort they put into donating plasma. With our new Super Hero Rewards loyalty program, Orange level donors can earn up to $80 per week, Silver level donors can earn up to $85 per week, and Gold level donors can earn up to $90 per week. If donors retain their Gold status throughout the year, they can earn up to $520 in additional compensation for the whole year!

2. Me-Time

After everything that’s gone on over the past few months, all of us deserve to relax, unwind, and get some much-needed me-time. Plasma donation is the perfect opportunity to do just that!

The plasmapheresis portion of the plasma donation process, where donors are intravenously connected to apheresis machines that receive and separate donor blood into its individual components, takes roughly 50 minutes to complete. During this time, our donors typically read novels, listen to podcasts, or watch their favourite TV series.

3. Improved Heath

One benefit of regularly donating plasma that isn’t often discussed is the fact that doing so can actually improve the health of the donor. The rigid screening processes donors undergo prior to donating, including blood pressure measurements and temperature checks, allow them to know their current health status. This can help with early disease detection. 

4. Exciting Giveaways and Bonuses

We have plenty of exciting giveaways and bonus opportunities for our plasma donors throughout the year. With our Super Hero Rewards program, donors who give plasma at least once a month are automatically entered into our monthly Walmart Gift Card prize draws. We’re also giving away a brand new iPhone 11 Pro to one lucky donor this month!

In addition to our giveaways, we also regularly host events where we give donors the opportunity to earn additional compensation. If donors refer a friend or family member through our donor referral program, they can earn a $25 bonus!

5. Helping Others

One of the greatest benefits of plasma donation is helping others. Not only is the plasma donated at DB Plasma used to help create life-saving therapies for immunocompromised patients that are especially vulnerable during this time, but it is also being used to help find a potential treatment for COVID-19. At the end of the day, there’s nothing more rewarding than giving back. 

Providing plasma donors with the best donation experience possible is something we pride ourselves on at DB Plasma, and we’re always happy to welcome new donors to our centres. Become a donor at DB Plasma and experience the numerous benefits of plasma donation for yourself!  

juillet 30, 2020

Plasma is a protein-rich component of blood that helps your body defend itself against infections. It is used to treat a host of rare diseases and is often described as being “yellow”, “gold”, or “straw-coloured”, but that isn’t always the case. A number of factors can cause plasma to become discoloured and/or cloudy, which can affect the viability of a donation. 

In today’s blog, we’ll be exploring the reasons why blood plasma isn’t always yellow. 

Why Is Blood Plasma Yellow?

Before we get into all the reasons behind discoloured plasma, it’s important to first establish why plasma is supposed to be yellow. The reason plasma is typically yellow in colour and not red like our blood is due to a pigment called bilirubin. Bilirubin is the end product of red blood cell (haemoglobin) breakdown. It is circulated in your blood then travels to your liver where it is processed and eventually removed. Higher bilirubin values cause a stronger yellow blood plasma colour.

Other bodily components that contribute to plasma’s yellow hue are carotenoids, which are pigments commonly found in fruits and vegetables like carrots, and haemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells.

Causes of Blood Plasma Discolouration

Common hues that are seen when plasma becomes discoloured are reddish-orange and green. Reddish-orange plasma is usually caused by red blood cells that have ruptured and decomposed, which is a process known as haemolysis. Smokers are more prone to having reddish-orange plasma due to the contaminated lack of oxygen in their system. Unfortunately, plasma that is too red cannot be used.

Green plasma, on the other hand, has been attributed to elevated levels of a copper-containing pigment called ceruloplasmin. Hormonal medications, like the pill, can cause higher levels of ceruloplasmin in the body. Infections and medical dyes used in diagnostic procedures can also cause green plasma.  

Causes of Cloudy Blood Plasma

In addition to being reddish-orange and green, plasma can also sometimes be milky white and cloudy. This phenomenon, known as lipemia, occurs when a donor has consumed fatty food prior to donating. Cloudy blood plasma cannot be used to manufacture plasma products. 

How to Improve the Quality of Your Plasma

As a plasma donor, there are a few things you can do to help make sure your plasma is the best possible quality. We recommend that donors refrain from smoking at least 8 hours prior to plasma donation. Donors should also avoid eating fatty foods like potato chips, pizza, peanut butter, and French fries before donating.

At DB Plasma, our goal is to safely contribute to the creation of as many life-saving therapies as possible. We measure each and every plasma unit we collect against a colour chart to ensure they meet manufacturing requirements. Book your next appointment today to help us help patients in need. 

juillet 24, 2020

Compensating donors is a practice we’ve been long-time proponents of at DB Plasma. Not only do paid plasma donations help us show our appreciation for the time and effort our donors put into helping others; they have also been proven time and time again to be the only way to ensure a secure supply of plasma.

The importance of paid plasma donations for donors and patients alike cannot be overstated, which is why we’re always looking for ways to optimize our compensation plan. Without further ado, here are 3 benefits of our brand new Super Hero Rewards loyalty program that launched on July 6, 2020!

1. Ongoing Payments

With our new Super Hero Rewards loyalty program, there are three levels donors can achieve:

• Orange level: All donors who give plasma at DB Plasma start at this level. They will receive $30 for their first donation of the week and $50 for their second donation of the week.
• Silver level: Donors who give plasma twice per week for two consecutive weeks will reach Silver level. They will receive $30 for their first donation of the week and $55 for their second donation of the week.
• Gold level: Donors who give plasma twice per week for two more consecutive weeks, following the initial two consecutive weeks, will reach Gold level. These two weeks of consecutive donations do not have to occur back to back. Gold level donors will receive $30 for their first donation of the week and $60 for their second donation of the week. 

Instead of donors receiving their additional compensation in a lump sum payment, the additional compensation Silver and Gold level donors earn will be paid following their plasma donations over the course of the year. With this program, you’ll be able to spend the additional compensation you earn sooner rather than later!

2. Opportunities to Earn More

DB Plasma’s current Super Hero Rewards loyalty program gives donors the opportunity to earn more bonuses much sooner! Donors no longer have to wait for their 25^th donation to start earning $4 bonuses and their 50^th donation to start earning $5 bonuses, as was the case with our previous program. Now donors can earn $5 bonuses after giving plasma twice per week for two consecutive weeks and $10 bonuses if they give plasma twice per week for two more consecutive weeks. This means that donors can start earning up to $85/week after four consecutive donations and up to $90/week after eight consecutive donations (if they choose to do their two consecutive weeks of two donations per week back to back).

3. Promoting More Plasma Donations

Last but certainly not least, our new program is designed to promote more plasma donations. For donors to maintain their Silver or Gold status, they must donate plasma at least once per calendar week. If a donation is missed in a given week, donors will return back to the Orange level. For donors to earn their additional $5 or $10 bonuses after attaining Silver or Gold status, they must give plasma twice per calendar week.

With this plan, we hope to encourage donors to give plasma as much as they possibly can. At the end of the day, more plasma donations lead to the creation of more life-saving therapies for chronically ill patients.

To learn more about our new Super Hero Rewards loyalty program, visit the Compensation page on the Canadian Plasma Resource’s website. To start earning your bonuses as soon as possible, book your next appointment today!

juin 30, 2020

Plasma has been found to be an effective treatment for a number of rare diseases, and hereditary angioedema (HAE) is one of them. Hereditary angioedema is a genetic condition characterized by recurrent episodes of swelling of the skin and other parts of the body. Read on to learn more about hereditary angioedema and how plasma products are used to manage the condition. 

What are the Symptoms of Hereditary Angioedema?

The symptoms of HAE typically begin in childhood and persist for the rest of a person’s life. The skin and tissue directly underneath the skin are usually the areas of the body most affected by swelling, though it can also happen on other parts of the body, including:

• Feet
• Hands
• Face
• Intestinal tract
• Mouth or throat

When recurrent episodes of severe skin swelling occur in the intestinal tract, nausea, abdominal pain, and vomiting may occur. Swelling in a person’s airway can lead to restricted breathing and potentially life-threatening obstruction. Symptoms of hereditary angioedema can worsen during puberty.

What are the Causes of Hereditary Angioedema?

Hereditary angioedema is an inherited disorder that individuals are born with. The most common form of HAE is caused by a single copy of an abnormal gene that can be inherited from either parent. The parent that carries the abnormal gene has a 50% chance of passing it on to their offspring, regardless of gender. Sometimes it can also occur due to a spontaneous new gene mutation.

Type I and type II HAE are caused by mutations in the C1NH gene, which is responsible for making a blood protein known as C1-inhibitor. Individuals with hereditary angioedema type I, the most common form, have a deficiency of this protein. Those with hereditary angioedema type II have normal levels of the protein, but they don’t function properly.

How is Hereditary Angioedema Diagnosed?

Recurrent episodes of severe swelling that aren’t able to be treated using antihistamines or steroid therapy are a telltale sign of HAE. Doctors will usually ask patients questions about their swelling and any allergies they may have, conduct a physical exam, and have a blood test done to confirm the diagnosis.

How is Hereditary Angioedema Treated?

Plasma-derived C1-INH products, like Haegarda and Kalbitor, have been proven to be an effective treatment for HEA. Many patients living with the disease rely on these plasma products to make their condition more manageable. 

Since these products contain the C1-inhibitor (C1-INH) protein that the majority of patients with hereditary angioedema are lacking, by receiving regular treatments patients can correct their underlying deficiency and reduce inflammation in the body. These treatments can be injected or infused either in a clinical setting or at home. 

With the right treatments, patients with hereditary angioedema can manage their condition and their quality of life can vastly improve as a result. To contribute to the creation of life-altering plasma treatments that people with disorders like HAE rely on, book an appointment at DB Plasma today. Every donation helps.

juin 23, 2020

Plasma donation is a complex process that involves a range of scientists and healthcare professionals. From nurses and production managers to registration and plasma processing staff, every team member plays an essential role.

If you’ve donated plasma in the past, you were probably assisted by one team member in particular during your donation session – a phlebotomist. In today’s blog, we’ll be shining a light on these incredible medical professionals and explaining how they contribute to the plasma donation process. 

What Are Phlebotomists?

Phlebotomists are trained professionals who specialize in extracting blood for research, transfusion, testing or donation purposes. To become a phlebotomist, one has to complete a phlebotomy program at an accredited institution. Once accreditation is attained, a phlebotomist will typically end up working in a hospital, clinic, laboratory or donation centre.

What Job Duties Do Phlebotomists Perform?

Standard job duties that phlebotomists perform include:

·  Explaining the blood draw process.

·  Prepping patients for blood draws.

·  Performing venipuncture and drawing blood.

·  Assisting patients or donors if they experience adverse reactions to their blood being drawn.

·  Identifying, labelling, and tracking samples collected.

·  Maintaining the supplies and equipment used to draw blood.

Most importantly, phlebotomists need to be able to care for patients and ensure that the samples collected aren’t tainted and don’t degrade. 

The Role of Phlebotomists at DB Plasma

Phlebotomists are an essential part of our business at DB Plasma, and we wouldn’t be able to conduct plasma donations without them. They work closely with our donors to ensure they have a positive donation experience and are there to guide them every step of the way.

In addition to the duties listed above, phlebotomists at our centres also do the following:

·  Check in donors for their appointment.

·  Ensure donor confidentiality.

·  Set up apheresis machines according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

·  Operate apheresis machines and other equipment according to SOPs.

·  Attend to donor needs and ensure they are safe and comfortable throughout.

·  Maintain accurate documentation throughout the plasmapheresis procedure.

·  Report quality issues or procedural deviation to the QSM department and management.

·  Assist physician substitutes as needed.

Over the years, we’ve seen how our phlebotomists exercise compassion for our plasma donors and the difference their infectious smiles and personable nature makes in the donation experience. We couldn’t be more thankful for the many amazing phlebotomists that work for us!

Book your next appointment at a DB Plasma centre near you to meet our incredible team of phlebotomists and help create life-saving treatments.