Lethbridge branch of Canadian Blood Services to be plasma donation centre

By Jensen, Randy on August 21, 2020.

The Lethbridge office of Canadian Blood Services will cease collecting whole blood donations as of Oct. 3 and will be transitioning into plasma clinic in a new location by the end December. Herald photo by Ian Martens @IMartensHerald

Lethbridge Herald

Canadian Blood Services will cease collecting whole blood donations in Lethbridge as of Oct. 3 as it transitions into plasma-only collection in the community.

According to a statement released by the organization on Wednesday, a new plasma donation centre will be open in Lethbridge by December, meaning there will be a two-month pause in local collections as Canadian Blood Services prepares for that transition.

“This is an important step for Canadian Blood Services to increase the amount of plasma collected in Canada to meet rising patient demand,” the statement reads in part. “Plasma is the protein-rich liquid in blood that helps other blood components circulate throughout our bodies. The proteins in plasma support our immune system and help control excessive bleeding.? Plasma is used in the treatment of a variety of life-threatening conditions including bleeding disorders, liver diseases and many types of cancers.”

This change will not impact the availability of blood products for local hospitals and patients, CBS confirms.

Last year Canadian Blood Services announced it would be making Lethbridge one of only three plasma-only collection sites in Canada.

“We are grateful for the many blood donors in Lethbridge and their commitment to saving lives,” the statement goes on to say. “We look forward to welcoming them as plasma donors when the new centre opens later this year. The process for donating plasma is similar to donating blood.”

According to Canadian Blood Services, eligible donors can continue to book appointments to donate blood in Lethbridge up until Oct. 3.

To book an appointment, visit blood.ca, download the GiveBlood mobile app on iOS or Android, or call 1-888-2DONATE.

To learn more about plasma visit blood.ca/plasma.

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