Plasma and blood component procurement

This article discusses the global, national (United Kingdom), and regional (Yorkshire) situation with regard to source plasma supply for the production of albumin and factor VIII. The U.K. decision to become self-sufficient in blood and blood products from a voluntary-based transfusion service has led to the introduction of automated machine plasmapheresis units. Operational protocol, staffing structure, donor recruitment and attendance, and the recommended guidelines for automated machine plasmapheresis centers is described. The flexibility of the system, utilizing combined platelet and plasma collection procedures, is discussed, illustrating how both local and national requirements can be met with automated apheresis programs. Finally, a comparative costing of commercial (manual) plasmapheresis and voluntary (machine) plasmapheresis is reviewed.