avril 3, 2020

The healing benefits of plasma are truly incredible, and the list of ailments this yellow liquid component of blood is capable of treating continues to grow. In recent days, researchers in the US and Canada have begun exploring the possibility of using convalescent plasma, plasma that is collected from patients who have recovered from COIVID-19, to treat individuals who are currently infected with the virus.  

There is no guarantee this treatment will work, but early studies have shown promise. Here’s everything you need to know about convalescent plasma therapy and how it is being used to help COVID-19 patients.

The History of Blood Plasma Products and Viral Infections

This is not the first time donated plasma from individuals who have recovered from viral infections has been used to treat newly infected patients. In fact, it is an approach that has been used for over a century. Blood plasma was used to treat patients during the 1918 flu pandemic and to treat measles in the 1930s. More recently, plasma therapy has been used to treat patients who have contracted SARS, Ebola, and H1N1 influenza.

A Promising Study in China

The first known case of COVID-19 was reported in Wuhan, China late last year. They subsequently had an outbreak in the city and Chinese doctors and researchers began testing experimental treatments. One of the treatments that was used in severe cases of COVID-19 was convalescent plasma transfusions. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, the five COVID-19 patients that were treated with convalescent plasma in China have all since recovered, albeit to varying degrees.

Although no conclusive evidence can be drawn from this small scale study, it does raise hope. Of the five critically ill patients, who also suffered from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and ranged from the age of 36 to 73, three have been discharged from the hospital and two are in stable condition following the treatment.

Why Convalescent Plasma Therapy Is Being Used

The effectiveness of plasma therapies in prior studies combined with the fact that there is currently no vaccine for COVID-19 makes plasma a promising treatment option. Scientists are hoping that the virus-fighting antibodies contained in the plasma of recovered patients will help individuals currently afflicted with COVID-19 fight off the virus until they develop antibodies of their own. 

Only time will tell if convalescent plasma will be an effective and viable treatment option for patients with COVID-19, but the incredible healing properties of this bodily component are undeniable. At DB Plasma, we’ve been long-time proponents of the healing abilities of human plasma, and we’ve committed ourselves to providing lifesaving therapies to patients with immune deficiencies and autoimmune conditions. Book an appointment at a DB Plasma centre near you to help patients that rely on plasma when they need it most.

mars 19, 2020

In the span of a few weeks, our world and the way we operate on a day-to-day basis has changed drastically due to a novel coronavirus that has been formally named COVID-19. Both the Government of Saskatchewan and the Government of New Brunswick have declared a state of emergency over the matter, and many people are coming to the realization that life truly is fragile. For patients living with rare and chronic diseases, this sentiment is one that they have lived with for a long time. The emergence of COVID-19 doesn’t change the fact that these individuals rely on donated plasma to maintain their health.

DB Plasma (DB Plasma) falls under the category of essential, critical infrastructure, and we’re committed to continuing to provide lifesaving therapies to patients in need while also protecting the health and safety of our donors. Here are 5 things we’re doing to keep our centres safe and clean in the wake of the novel coronavirus. 

1. Upkeeping Practices That Were Already in Place

Prior to the emergence of the coronavirus, we already had strict sanitary practices in place, and we’ve always prided ourselves on setting the highest standard for cleanliness in the industry. In addition to our stringent daily cleaning and sanitizing practices, we abide by strict screening procedures that include measuring the temperature of donors and assessing changes to their health. Our staff is also trained on Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and proper lab hygiene. We are confident in our ability to safely collect plasma at our centres.

2. Increasing Our Sanitary Practices

In addition to the strict sanitary procedures that were already being practiced, we’ve decided to also do the following:

• Clean the waiting area, screening rooms, and donation rooms more frequently.
• Thoroughly sanitize donation beds between every donation.
• Increase the frequency with which we clean high-touch areas including doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, faucets, sinks, and tabletops.

3. Abiding By Safety Protocols 

DB Plasma is closely monitoring the situation at hand through information shared by the Pubic Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We are abiding by recommended safety protocols, and as of March 14^th, we asked that anyone who has travelled internationally to any country to avoid plasma donation for 14 days. We also request that donors with flu symptoms stay at home for 7 days after their symptoms subside.

4. Implementing Social Distancing Measures

Social distancing is a measure that is being used to limit the spread of coronavirus, and we’ve made the following changes at our centres to minimize close contact:

• Operating donation beds have been rearranged to have one non-operating bed in between. Donors will now be more than 6 feet away from one another.
• The number of individuals permitted in donor-specific areas of the building has been reduced to below 50 persons throughout the day.
• Staff have been advised to have more restricted contact with donors going forward. For example, they will avoid touching donor ID cards as much as possible and will disinfect them if they do have to touch them.
• Wait times have been effectively eliminated, which means donors can proceed to the donation hall very rapidly.

5. Taking Extra Precautions With Employees

Every person is individually responsible for preventing the spread of COVID-19, and this includes DB Plasma staff. As such, we’ve asked our team members to take these extra precautions:

• Stay home if they are feeling unwell or have travelled internationally.
• Wash their hands for a minimum of 20 seconds and use approved hand sanitizer.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick outside of our centres.
• Not touch their eyes, nose, or mouth with unsanitized hands.
• Not shaking hands, hugging or kissing when coming in contact with people.

The safety of our donors and staff is our top priority at DB Plasma, and we will continue to make the appropriate changes as the situation at hand evolves. In the meantime, we’d like to assure everyone that DB Plasma centres are not places where sick people gather. In fact, they are quite the contrary, and some of the healthiest people amongst us are plasma donors. 

Book your next appointment today to help patients with immune deficiencies and autoimmune diseases get the plasma they need.

février 26, 2020

Manufacturing blood plasma into lifesaving treatments is a complex process that involves several steps beyond plasma donation. To ensure the safety and quality of plasma products, manufacturers must abide by strict regulatory requirements, and creating therapies that can treat rare conditions using the albumin, alpha-1 proteinase inhibitors, clotting factors, and immunoglobulins present in plasma can take anywhere from 7-12 months to complete. If you’re curious about what happens to your plasma beyond the donor bed, keep reading to learn how plasma is processed post-donation.

Collecting and Holding Blood Plasma

Unlike many other manufactured drugs that are created from synthetic materials, plasma-derived therapies are made from blood plasma, a biological material that is collected from donors via apheresis machines. Once a donor’s blood has been run through an apheresis machine and the plasma is separated out, it is collected, sampled, and sent for testing.

Plasma must be held in inventory for 60 days before the manufacturing process can begin in accordance with international standards that have been set out by Quality Standards of Excellence, Assurance and Leadership (QSEAL). This hold period makes it possible for source plasma to be identified, retrieved, and destroyed if post-donation information reveals a donor isn’t qualified to give plasma.

Blood Plasma Fractionation

After blood plasma has made it past the 60-day inventory hold, it is pooled, purified, and processed through a process known as “fractionation”. During fractionation, plasma proteins are separated or “fractioned off” through a combination of changing temperature, time, ethanol concentrations, and pH. Purification methods including precipitation, centrifugation, separation, and filtration, as well as viral reduction treatments are then used according to individual properties of the protein classes present in plasma.

Viral reduction treatments play an important part in ensuring the plasma products being manufactured are as safe as possible. Viral inactivation methods include solvent/detergent (S/D) and pasteurisation, both of which have proven to be effective at preventing the transmission of highly pathogenic viruses via coagulation factor concentrates.

In addition to the extensive manufacturing processes fractionators perform, they also invest heavily in research and technologies in an effort to improve the quality of proteins extracted from plasma. 

The complex processes, strict regulations, and innovative techniques involved in the manufacturing of plasma products set this production apart from other pharmaceuticals. From the initial plasma donation to the lifesaving therapies that individuals living with immune deficiencies and autoimmune diseases benefit from and everything in between, the creation of plasma-derived products is truly an incredible feat.

Book your next appointment at DB Plasma today to contribute to the creation of therapies that help save lives. 

janvier 23, 2020

Blood donation and plasma donation are both great ways to give back to those in need via bodily components that replenish themselves. Millions of Canadians take the time to give blood and/or plasma every year, but there is still a lot of confusion surrounding the difference between these two types of donations, and understandably so. Even though the process of giving blood and giving plasma are quite similar at first glance, they are vastly different in many other regards. In today’s blog, we’ll be giving you an in-depth look into all things blood donation VS plasma donation. 

The Difference Between Blood and Plasma

The major differences between blood donation and plasma donation stem from what these fluids are composed of and the purpose they serve in the human body. Here are some distinguishing features of blood VS plasma:

• Whole Blood: This red bodily fluid is composed of red cells, white cells, plasma, and platelets. It supplies oxygen and essential nutrients to cells and tissues in the body and removes waste materials like carbon dioxide and lactic acid.
• Plasma: Plasma is the clear, straw-coloured liquid component found in blood. It is made up of 90% water and carries nutrients, minerals, hormones, and proteins to parts of the body that need it. Plasma also contains antibodies that help fight infections and proteins including albumin and fibrinogen that help maintain serum osmotic pressure.

The Blood Donation Process VS The Plasma Donation Process

Whole blood donations involve cleansing an area on the donor’s arm, inserting a sterile needle, and drawing blood. Typically blood donation entails the collection of a pint of blood, which takes about 8-10 minutes to collect. Once donation is complete, a bandage is placed on the donor’s arm and they are given time to recuperate.

The plasma donation process and whole blood donation process are similar in that they both involve the cleansing of a donor’s arm and the insertion of a sterile needle; however, plasma is collected through a process known as plasmapheresis. Plasmapheresis is a method of removing and separating plasma from whole blood via an apheresis machine. This automated process takes about 50 minutes to complete.

Uses

Whole blood is commonly transfused in its original form in an effort to treat injuries and illnesses. It can be also be separated into its individual components and used to treat conditions including cancer and blood disorders.

Plasma, on the other hand, is typically used as a starting material to manufacture commercial drugs known as plasma products.  These plasma products serve as lifesaving therapies for patients living with immune deficiencies and autoimmune diseases.

Compensation

In Canada, donors are not compensated for their blood donations, but they may or may not be compensated for plasma donations, depending on whether the jurisdiction they’re located in has approved of paid plasma donations.

Thankfully, at DB Plasma, we are able to compensate our plasma donors at our Saskatoon and Moncton centres. Being able to offer paid plasma donations is important to us as it allows us to show our appreciation to donors and ensures a secure and safe supply of plasma for patients that need it.

Evidently, while blood donation and plasma donation do have their similarities, they are, in fact, more different than they are similar. At DB Plasma, we pride ourselves on collecting high-quality plasma from healthy donors that is then used to manufacture lifesaving and life-changing therapies. Book your next appointment to contribute to a good cause and get compensated for it. 

décembre 30, 2019

The new year is nearly here and that means it’s almost time to make your resolutions. Every year on January 1^st, people all around the world make promises in an effort to better themselves, and the most popular New Year’s resolutions are always health-related ones. Whether your goal is to get more exercise in, up your water intake, or eat healthier, we’re here to tell you why all of the above make for good resolutions. Here are three reasons you should prioritize your health in the new year.

1. Your Health Is Your Greatest Asset

Healthy individuals often take their wellbeing for granted when in actuality your health is the greatest asset you have. It is what enables you to do whatever you want and live your life to the fullest. Without your health, it becomes very challenging to do everything you aspire to in life. Ask anyone that has dealt with a serious illness, and they’ll tell you that nothing matters more than your health.

2. Being the Best Version of Yourself

Making your health a priority can increase your longevity, contribute to disease prevention, increase your energy, improve your digestion, and even improve your self-worth. Simply put, when you take care of your body, you feel good, and you become the best version of yourself.

3. Positively Impacting Others

Believe it or not, prioritizing your health can benefit others just, if not more, than it benefits you. Your newly formed good habits will inevitably start to rub off on your loved ones and you will also have the opportunity to positively impact those that haven’t been as fortunate with their health. Plasma donation, in particular, is a great way to give back and change the lives of patients that need lifesaving plasma therapies.  

How to Optimize Your Health for Plasma Donation

To optimize your health for plasma donation, you should do the following:

• Drink plenty of water both before and after donating
• Eat healthy meals that contain foods rich in folic acid, vitamin B-2, and iron a few hours before and after your appointment
• Steer clear of alcohol, caffeine, and foods high in cholesterol or fat prior to donating
• Get a good night’s rest before you donate

The benefits you’ll reap and the positive impact you’ll have on others as a result of putting your health first make the extra effort well worth it. At DB Plasma, we prioritize donor wellbeing and we’d like to wish all our plasma donors a happy and healthy New Year.

Book your next appointment today.

décembre 19, 2019

The holiday season is finally here and the next few weeks will be filled with plenty of cheer! There’s no doubting the magic that comes along with the traditions of this time of year, but it’s also important to remember that not everyone gets to enjoy the pageantry of holiday rituals and that the true spirit of this season comes from giving back. When it comes to plasma donation specifically, you get to fulfill your desire to do good and also enjoy other perks that come along with the process. Here are all the reasons you should give plasma during the holidays:

Plasma Donation is a Great Way to Earn Extra Cash

Between buying gifts for your loved ones, grabbing dinner and drinks with friends, and paying for airfare to see your family, the holidays can get pretty expensive! Thankfully, at DB Plasma, we pay our donors for the time and effort they put into giving plasma.

DB Plasma donors are directly compensated via e-transfer for each donation they make and if you’re donating at your maximum potential you can make up to $400 per month. Donors are also automatically enrolled in our Super Hero Rewards program, a standard points system that rewards donors with additional bonus payments based on the number of donations they make. Between these two compensation methods, you can easily earn the extra cash you need for all your holiday spending. 

Rest and Relaxation

The holiday season is typically go go go, and gift shopping can be especially hectic. The stress of checking everything off your list and making sure you haven’t forgotten anything (or anyone) can leave you feeling pretty exhausted if you don’t give yourself some downtime. Luckily, plasma donation involves getting some much-needed R&R and our comfy donation beds are the perfect place to unwind for a few hours. 

The Holiday Season is All About Giving Back

Last but certainly not least, the holiday season is all about giving back and plasma donation is a great way to do just that! For patients living with rare and chronic conditions, the need for plasma never goes away – no matter what time of year it is. Donating plasma is an excellent way to help ensure that lifesaving treatments are available for those who need them and that individuals with these illnesses have the ability to enjoy the holidays just like the rest of us do!

No matter what your motive is for giving plasma, you can rest easy knowing that this practice truly embodies the spirit of the holidays. To every donor that takes time out of their busy schedule to give plasma during the holiday season – thank you. We hope the giving spirit stays with you throughout the entire year and we look forward to seeing you again soon!

Book your next appointment today.

novembre 28, 2019

Paying plasma donors in Canada is a contentious issue that has raised concerns and given rise to fierce debate for quite some time now. Despite a large number of ethicists, economists, and medical professionals publicly supporting paid plasma donations, there are a small percentage of Canadians that still question the practice and its legitimacy.  In today’s blog, we’ll be debunking common misconceptions about paid plasma donations and unpacking all the reasons that compensating donors is important.

Donor Appreciation

First and foremost, paying plasma donors is a great way to show your appreciation for their time and effort. Plasma donation is a process that takes anywhere from one and a half hours to over two hours to complete, depending on how many donations you’ve made in the past. This time commitment in addition to the temporary discomfort that can come from blood plasma being drawn makes donors more than deserving of economic consideration. Paid plasma donation also provides donors with additional remuneration that enables them to live much more comfortably.

Boosting Donations

In Canada, we don’t have nearly as many plasma donors as we need to meet the demand for plasma, and we largely rely on paid donors from the United States to make the lifesaving therapies that patients need. Compensating donors is pretty much the only way to ensure a secure supply of plasma and the world’s largest exporters of plasma, the US and Germany, are both countries that have legislation permitting plasma donors to be compensated. Evidently, paid plasma donations give plasma donors the extra motivation they need to continue donating, which in turn increases and secures the plasma supply for patients who need it.

A Safe Supply

Contrary to what you may have been led to believe, paid plasma donations are just, if not more,  safe than unpaid donations. All paid plasma donors must undergo rigorous screenings and regular blood tests to ensure tainted blood supplies never make their way to individuals that need lifesaving plasma treatments. In addition, since most of Canada’s current plasma supply comes from paid plasma donors in the US, patients would already be at risk, making the “safety” argument invalid.

At the end of the day, there is no disputing the fact that paid plasma donations are mutually beneficial. Plasma donors get compensated for their time, effort, and commitment, and patients that need lifesaving therapies are much more easily able to access them. At DB Plasma, we’ve been long-time proponents of paid plasma donation and have seen first hand how this practice can make a difference in the lives of donors and recipients alike.

Book your next appointment today.

novembre 1, 2019

Plasma donation in Canada is an industry that’s had its fair share of setbacks. Despite a desire to do good and give back to individuals living with immune deficiencies and autoimmune diseases, plasma donation services have been met with protest and political debate. Thankfully, DB Plasma has been able to overcome these challenges and we’ve been contributing to the creation of lifesaving therapies since 2016. In fact, Canadian Plasma Resource’s Saskatoon centre collects more plasma than any other blood establishment in Canada, including those operated by CBS or Hema Quebec.

Getting our centres up and running was a step in the right direction for paid plasma in Canada, but we’re still lagging far behind the United States. To this day, we continue to rely on them to meet our country’s demand for plasma.

Canada only collects about 15% of the plasma needed to meet the demand for domestic immune globulin, one of the lifesaving medicines that is made from source plasma. That means we’re currently relying on paid donors in the United States to provide about 85% of our plasma supply. A relatively easy, short-term solution to this issue would be to pay more Canadian plasma donors, but Canadian Blood Services refuses to support paid plasma donations in Canada and prefers to import finished products made from paid US donors.

The lack of proper planning on the part of Canadian Blood Services has led to a shortage of take home immune globulin products in Canada, which means patients who weren’t already on it may no longer be able to access it. Many Canadians rely heavily on take home immune globulin products, and without it, their condition will significantly decline. This can result in issues walking, and for some, even breathing can become laboured.

With people’s health on the line and such a feasible solution available, it simply doesn’t make sense for Canadian Blood Services to block the efforts to make paid plasma donation possible. Paid plasma donations have been proven time and time again to be the only way to ensure a secure supply of plasma. Paid donors in the United States provide over 70% of the entire world’s supply of plasma that is used to create plasma medicine.

Not only is paid plasma donation the only option, but it’s also a safe option. A Health Canada report has explicitly stated that paid plasma donations are just as safe as unpaid plasma donations. Patient groups that rely on plasma therapies have even come out and made their support for paid plasma known.

Despite the overwhelming evidence that has verified the positive effects of paid plasma donations, the previous governments of Alberta and Ontario, as well as the current NDP government in British Columbia, continue to listen to public sector unions that oppose this service instead of the patients that need it. Paid plasma is an absolute must for these patients, and it is something that we will likely always rely on in Canada. We can only hope that Canadian Unions and Canadian Blood Services will have a change of heart and realize that paid plasma donations in Canada benefit taxpayers, donors, and, most importantly, recipients, and this option is preferable to paid donations from the US.

Book your next appointment today.

septembre 27, 2019

Plasma donation is a completely safe process that has been closely regulated by Health Canada since the late 1990s, and today Canada’s blood system is considered to be one of the safest in the world. Donor restrictions have been put in place to ensure that tainted blood supplies don’t make their way to individuals that require the lifesaving therapies manufactured from plasma. In today’s blog, we’ll be going over plasma donor restrictions and unpacking why they exist.

Plasma donors should be between 17 and 68 years of age.

At DB Plasma, the minimum plasma donation age is 17 and the maximum plasma donation age is 68. Individuals who are younger than 17 are classified as legal minors who cannot give consent to donate plasma by themselves. An upper age limit has been set for plasma donations in order to mitigate potential health risks. 

Plasma donors should weigh at least 50 kg (110 lbs).

Whole blood is drawn during the plasma donation process and since blood volume is in proportion to body weight, donors must weigh at least 110 pounds to donate plasma for their own safety. Donors who weigh less than 110 pounds may not be able to tolerate the volume of blood that is removed for plasma donation.

Plasma donors cannot donate blood within 56 days of donating plasma.  

Making a donor wait 56 days between blood donations is a commonplace practice has been put in place to give the body time to replenish itself, especially its iron reserve. Since whole blood is drawn during the plasma donation process, waiting 56 days from your last blood donation is an extra precaution that should be taken.

It should be noted that donors do not have to wait 56 days between plasma donations and in accordance with DB Plasma’s Health Canada approved standard operating procedures, donors can give plasma twice in a 7-day period so long as there is at least one rest day between the two donation days.

Plasma donors cannot get a tattoo or piercing within 12 months of donating plasma.

When you get a tattoo or piercing, you risk contracting an infectious disease if a sterile needle is not used. Some of these infectious diseases cannot be detected immediately.

Plasma donors must have a permanent address within 100 kilometers of a DB Plasma facility.

Donor Recruiting Area (DRA) borders are imposed by the Plasma Protein Therapeutic Association (PPTA) through the International Quality Plasma Program (IQPP) certification process.  Canadian Plasma Resource’s DRA borders require donors to reside within the Saskatoon/GSA or Moncton/GMA area.

Hopefully we’ve put some of the questions you may have had about donor restrictions to rest. If you meet all the eligibility requirements listed, we’d be thrilled to have you as a donor. At DB Plasma, not only do you get to contribute to the well being of others, but you are also compensated for your time.

Book an appointment today!

août 30, 2019

Thousands of people around the globe donate plasma every day, and it is a process that is considered completely safe. At DB Plasma, plasma collection is performed in a highly controlled clinical environment and our staff adhere to strict plasma collection standards that have been set out by Health Canada.

With that said, attempting anything for the first time can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially when you don’t know what to expect and you’re in an unfamiliar environment. If you’re a first-time plasma donor, here are some ways you can optimize your plasma donation experience.

1. Come to Your Plasma Donation Appointment Early

Your first visit to DB Plasma will take approximately two hours and 15 minutes. As such, it’s in your best interest to come early and give yourself plenty of time to go through the necessary registration and screening protocols. Aiming to arrive at least five minutes early also increases the likelihood of you being relaxed for the appointment and ensures that you have a buffer in case any unexpected delays occur.

2. Come to Your Plasma Donation Appointment Prepared

Coming prepared for your appointment will make your first scheduled visit go a lot smoother. For plasma donations at DB Plasma specifically, this means familiarizing yourself with the eligibility requirements and bringing the required documentation. Here’s everything you need to know in order to come prepared:

Eligibility requirements:

• You must be between 17 and 68 years of age.
• You must weigh at least 110 pounds.
• You must have a permanent address within 100 kilometers of a DB Plasma facility.

Required documentation:

• You must present valid photo identification, proof of address, and a social insurance card.

3. Wear Comfortable Clothing to Your Plasma Donation Appointment

During your first plasma donation session, you will have your blood pressure checked and be connected to an apheresis machine via the veins in the crease of your elbow. It is important to wear loose-fitting sleeves that can easily be rolled up without compromising your blood supply or making you feel uncomfortable.

4. Bring Something To Do During the Plasma Donation Process

You will be spending approximately 50 minutes actually donating and attached to the apheresis machine. This is a great opportunity to get some much needed “me time” by either watching your favourite TV show or indulging in a good book!

5. Prioritize Rest, Relaxation, and Replenishment

It is important to prioritize rest, relaxation, and replenishment both before and after the plasma donation process. Before donating, try to get a good night’s sleep, eat well, and stay hydrated. Beverages that contain caffeine or alcohol should not be consumed for eight hours prior to donation.

After donating, you will be escorted to the DB Plasma waiting room where you can relax and enjoy refreshments. Once you get home, replenish yourself with a healthy, well-balanced meal.

By putting these suggestions into practice, your plasma donation appointment will be much more enjoyable and relaxing. The staff at DB Plasma also go the extra mile and closely monitor donors to ensure the optimal plasma donation experience.

Book your next appointment today!