Hint: it has six letters. And can be used in 18 different life-saving ways. The answer? Plasma.
What is plasma?
Plasma is a part of your blood that holds all the other blood cells, and it is Australia’s most-needed blood donation.
How is it used?
Plasma protects against chicken pox. It fights measles and tetanus infections. It treats immune deficiencies, helps prevent infections during bone marrow transplants and treats complications during heart surgeries. Those are just some of the incredible ways it can be used.
And Australia needs more of it.
In fact, a new plasma donation is needed every 35 seconds.
Will you be the answer?
This October, La Trobe University Lifeblood Team is celebrating Plasma Awareness Month and International Plasma Awareness Week (6-10 October). Make an impact with us by joining our team and donating plasma together.
Plasma can help anyone, even an Olympian
When Olympic gold medallist and world champion Michael Klim was first diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease in 2020, one thing helped him fight back – plasma. Today, he has a special message for La Trobe University Lifeblood Team and plasma donors. Check out what he has to say here and book in with our team to help more recipients like him.
More people can now donate plasma
Lifeblood has recently introduced eligibility changes that enable more people to donate. These changes mean gay and bisexual men, and more transgender people can now donate plasma with no wait period. This is a step towards donation equality and we’re excited that more people can now save lives!
If you’ve been thinking about donating, now is the time. Your donation could stop bleeding in critical moments. It could treat severe burns and protect unborn babies. Or, help a transplant patient celebrate another birthday. Step up and save lives with the La Trobe University Lifeblood Team. The answer is in you.