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NORTH METRO BUSINESS JOURNAL
JULY 2020
conwayarkansas.org
Biomat USA helps treat rare, chronic conditions through plasma donation Plasma donor center seeks donors, including those recovered from COVID-19 As COVID-19 cases rise in Arkansas and across the country, plasma
If a person is lacking a particular component of plasma – whether
donation has gotten increased attention as a method to treat patients
it’s a protein, an antibody, or a combination of these – Grifols isolates
with the disease. Biomat USA – formerly known as Biotest Plasma
those components from the plasma collected from healthy plasma
Center – has collected plasma at its Conway location on 2235 Dave
donors. These products may treat people with Alpha-1, which is
Ward Drive since March 2015. Grifols, the parent company of Biomat
a genetic form of COPD; people with deficiencies in their immune
USA, is leading the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
systems; people with GBS/CIDP, which can look like acute paralysis;
With more than 150 plasma donor centers across the nation, including the 16,000-square-foot collection facility in Conway,
and other conditions. For many patients, the treatment with plasma medicines is their only
Grifols has begun identifying, screening, and selecting volunteer
treatment option. Sara Balsam, corporate affairs representative at
donors who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate their plasma.
Grifols, said it takes anywhere from 130 to 1,300 donations to treat one
The company then uses the plasma to produce a hyperimmune globulin
patient just for one year. The good news is that plasma can be collected
that could potentially treat the disease.
more frequently than whole blood.
Although COVID-19 has put plasma donation in the spotlight, there
“Because our bodies replenish plasma quickly, donors can give plasma
are many conditions that plasma-derived medicines help treat. Plasma
more frequently than those giving whole blood – up to two times in a
is the clear, liquid portion of blood containing proteins and antibodies.
seven-day period, with at least day in between,” Balsam said.
Grifols extracts these proteins and antibodies to manufacture into lifesaving medicines that treat rare and chronic conditions.
The process to donate plasma differs a bit from whole blood donation. A specialized medical device separates the donor’s plasma from their blood through a safe, sterile, automated process called plasmapheresis. During this process, a venipuncture is performed on the donor’s arm and whole blood is drawn, which is then separated into plasma and red blood cells. The red blood cells are returned to the donor through the same site in their arm. Because it takes more time and requires a commitment from the plasma donors, Biomat USA and other plasma donation centers offer donor fees as a small thank-you.
