Canadian Blood Services is putting out a call for plasma donations

The Canadian Blood Services building in Ottawa is pictured in this Feb. 20, 2025 image. (Peter Szperling/CTV News Ottawa)

Canadian Blood Services say they are looking for an influx of donations ahead of the holidays.

Jan Grant, community development manager of Canadian Blood Services, says the organization is seeking donations, and is specifically making a push for plasma, or, as Grant refers to it, “liquid gold.”

“It can help support patients who are having cancer treatments, who are having surgeries, there’s many different reasons why they would use plasma,” Grant told 580 CFRA’s Ottawa at Work with Patricia Boal on Friday.

“The goal with our appointments is to fill as many as we can and make sure that we can support hospital patients with the plasma that they need, when they need it throughout the year.”

While many are inspired to donate during the holiday season, Grant says many regular donors take the holidays off.

“This is where we need to have other people step up and have new donors come out and fill that void and help support hospital patients during that time.”

According to Grant, the need for blood and plasma is only going to increase in the next half decade, which is why the organization is putting out the call for donations.

“We need a million new donors, and we need a lot of those to be plasma donors because they are expecting to see a 50 per cent increase in the demand of the hospital levels for plasma over the next five years,” Grant said.

What’s it like to donate plasma?

Those who have donated blood before will be familiar with the process of plasma donation, Grant says.

“It takes about fifteen minutes longer than a whole blood donation for those that have donated, so the process in itself is very much the same,” Grant said.

For those who haven’t donated blood or plasma before, Grant says there’s little to fear.

“It’s a very warm and friendly environment,” she says.

“We ask you to sit back, and relax and be comfortable, while our professional team does the work that they do to make the collection and we’re there to support people all through the process.”

Grant suggests bringing a form of entertainment to pass the time while donating or even setting out with a group of friends.

“If you’ve never done it before, now is the time,” Grant said.

“You really do experience that you’ve given something special, and the reward that the donors leave with is very, very impactful.”

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