Exciting times as Dundee becomes Scotland's new plasma donation hub

In Spring 2024 the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) will begin manufacturing a new product called Plasma for Medicine.

This is a huge step towards making life-changing treatments more accessible to patients across the country, as it means Scotland will be able to produce immunoglobulin therapy. This product is crucial in helping patients with weakened immune systems fight infection.

Starting from April 1st, 2024, SNBTS needs to recruit 1,000 plasma donors throughout Scotland. It is currently planned that 350 of these donors will be based in Dundee, meaning Dundee will become a specialist centre for plasma donation.

As a result, platelet donation in Dundee will draw to a close at the end of March 2024, to give the centre the ability to concentrate on plasma donation. The dedicated staff at the centre are reaching out to every platelet donor in Dundee in the hope that these incredible individuals will be among the first to join the ranks of Plasma for Medicine donors, and become the driving force behind Dundee’s plasma hub.

While Dundee takes the lead in plasma collection, donor centres in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen will ramp up their platelet collection efforts. We urge all platelet donors to continue their regular donations during this period of change - your support is a lifeline for countless patients.

The final opportunity for platelet donation in Dundee is scheduled for March 29th.

Plasma for Medicine is a new chapter in Scotland's healthcare journey. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.

Who can give plasma?

Plasma donors must be:

• at least 60kg
• any blood group
• an existing donor who has given blood or platelets at least once before (only applicable to females)
• able to donate at Dundee, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow or Inverness donor centres
• willing to spare 60 minutes each time they give plasma

Plasma donors can donate every four weeks, but we would love to welcome donors 4-6 times per year.

• To find out more about plasma donation speak to staff next time you give blood, call us on 0345 90 90 90 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) or contact us online using the ‘Plasma enquiry’ dropdown menu.
• Find out more about plasma donation