Anyone curious about what to expect as a plasma donor and how plasma contributes to lifesaving medicines can now learn about the process thanks to a new DVD from the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA). "Becoming a Plasma Donor," details the safety and eligibility steps required to become a committed plasma donor at one of the 400-plus U.S. Food and Drug Administration-licensed and International Quality Plasma Program-certified plasma collection centers in the United States. The 10 minute video illustrates how critically important plasma donors are to the production of safe and effective therapies that help individuals coping with rare, chronic, life-threatening diseases.
PPTA's DVD guides viewers step-by-step through the process that a new plasma donor experiences when applying to donate plasma, from the completion and review of the health history questionnaire to the physical examination to the donation process itself.
"I'm pleased to announce this new resource, which gives people who are interested in donating plasma important information on the plasma donation process and shows viewers what they can expect," said PPTA President and CEO Jan M. Bult.
Plasma protein therapies are used to treat life-threatening, rare, chronic diseases and disorders such as hemophilia, primary immunodeficiencies, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and neurological and autoimmune disorders. In addition, plasma protein therapies are used to treat other serious medical conditions such as shock, trauma, and burns.
"A major goal of PPTA is to help promote the understanding of and access to safe and effective plasma protein therapeutics for all patients in the world," said Bult. "This DVD is an educational tool that showcases the numerous safety measures in place to protect the health of the donor and the patients who rely on therapies made from plasma."
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