The Hospital of Eibar has been incorporated as a new plasma donation point into the network of plasma collection centers coordinated by the Basque Center for Transfusion and Human Tissues (CVTTH) of Osakidetza. This initiative stems from a collaboration agreement between the OSI Debabarrena and the CVTTH.
With this new location in Gipuzkoa, the Basque Country now has eight plasma donation points. The Basque Center for Transfusion and Human Tissues thus consolidates Osakidetza's plasma collection network, positioning it among the five most developed state Health Services in terms of blood plasma procurement.
Plasma donation has become a present and future priority in the hemoderivative donation strategy of Osakidetza. Currently, there are approximately 3,000 plasma donors in the Basque Country who donate twice a year. Osakidetza's objective is to achieve self-sufficiency in blood plasma needs within three to five years. To achieve this, it is necessary to reach 20,000 annual plasma donations, which implies having around 5,000 regular plasma donors, who make an average of four donations per year.
Blood plasma has gained increasing prominence in the healthcare field due to its special characteristics and multiple therapeutic applications, making it an indispensable resource in medicine. Furthermore, plasma is a blood component that cannot be artificially manufactured and is essential for producing vital medications, such as immunoglobulins, which currently enable the recovery and improvement of the quality of life for thousands of patients.
In this regard, blood plasma donations help save thousands of lives annually and contribute to patients with potentially life-threatening diseases living longer with a better quality of life, while also enabling complex medical and surgical interventions for patients within the Basque Health System.
Plasma donation is performed using a technique called plasmapheresis, which allows for the extraction of only plasma in a specialized procedure that takes less than an hour. Unlike conventional blood donation, plasma can be donated once a month and up to 12 times a year, as the recovery of lost plasma is very rapid.
The main requirements to be a plasma donor are to be in good general health, be between 18 and 65 years old, and weigh over 50 kg. To donate plasma in the Basque Country, it is necessary to schedule an appointment at Osakidetza's hemodonation points, which can be done through the Osakidetza Mobile Portal, its website, or by phone at 900 30 34 04.
Currently, the authorized centers for plasma donation within Osakidetza are: in Bizkaia: Basque Center for Transfusions and Human Tissues at Galdakao University Hospital, Durango-Landako Health Center, Bombero Etxaniz Health Center, and Urduliz Hospital. In Gipuzkoa: Hospital of Eibar, Arrasate Health Center, and Gipuzkoa Blood Donors in Donostia. In Araba: Olaguibel Health Center in Vitoria-Gasteiz.
