A blood donation clinic pictured at a Calgary mall on Friday March 27, 2020. Canadian Blood Services assures the public that blood donations from people who have had COVID-19 or who have received the vaccine are safe. THE CANADIAN PRESS / Jeff McIntosh
A new plasma donation center will open in Kelowna this summer
There is a growing need for plasma donation, according to Canadian Blood Services
The Canadian Blood Services facility on Dilworth Drive in Kelowna closed on March 31st.
The organization said it is preparing a new center that will focus on plasma donation to meet growing patient care needs.
Plasma is the protein-rich, straw-colored liquid in the blood that helps other components circulate in the body. Proteins in plasma are also key to the manufacture of a wide variety of specialized drugs used to treat rare, life-threatening, chronic, and genetic diseases.
“We chose to invest in Kelowna as a location for a state-of-the-art plasma donation center because we are confident that the community will be able to meet the need for donated plasma,” said Janna, business development manager, Canadian Blood Services Pantella said.
“The people of Kelowna have been committed blood donors and have always responded generously to blood needs. We are counting on them to do the same for plasma donation. “
The new donor center will open in June. The employees are preparing the new room for the summer opening.
And although the new center will focus on plasma donation, the nonprofit said those who wish to donate blood can continue to do so and nothing will change how patients receive blood in Kelowna and the surrounding communities.
While it’s not open yet, those who wish to donate can now make appointments by calling 1-888-2-DONATE or visiting the Canadian Blood Services website.
READ: Big White announces early closure after increased requests outside of town
Twila Amato
Video journalist, Black Press Okanagan
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