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Description: “Canadian Blood Services is responsible for ensuring a safe and secure supply of plasma, and for mitigating the risks and impacts of the growing global demand for plasma protein products such as Ig, within Canada’s national healthcare system,” says Dr. Graham Sher, CEO, Canadian Blood Services.

“Opening these stand-alone sites will allow us to increase plasma collection and halt the current downward trend in Canada’s source plasma sufficiency levels. By increasing the domestic plasma supply we can continue to be responsive to the needs of Canadian patients, today and into the future,” adds Dr. Sher.

Canadian Blood Services is pleased to announce that with the support of funding governments, plans are now underway to increase plasma collection in Canada.

These sites will be dedicated to the collection of source plasma, which is the blood component used to make specialized medicines from the proteins in human plasma. The protein products that are derived from source plasma are used in the treatment of patients with a variety of life-threatening conditions.

Usage of one plasma protein product, Immune globulin (Ig), has doubled internationally over the past ten years. Ig is used to treat primary immunodeficiency disorders, a group of rare chronic disorders in which part of the immune system is missing or functioning improperly. Secondary immunodeficiencies, which result from non-genetic factors such as viruses and chemotherapy, are also treated with Ig.

Canadian Blood Services has identified the decrease in plasma sufficiency – the percentage of Ig product delivered to Canadian patients that is produced from plasma collected in Canada by Canadian Blood Services, the national agency mandated by provinces and territories to do so – as a material risk needing mitigation.

Come learn more about these new locations across Canada and how you can get involved.

Date: June 14, 2023

Time: 12pm – 1pm (ET)

At the end of this session you will be able to:

• Increase awareness about Canadian Blood Services and what our mandate is.
• Increase awareness about the need for plasma donations in Canada
• Engage in a conversation about how people can get involved.

Speaker: Judy Jones, Associate Director, Plasma Operation Canadian Blood Services

Judy Jones is Associate Director of Donor Recruitment with the Plasma division of Canadian Blood Services. Judy began this role in 2018, when Canadian blood services expanded plasma donation services, which now has 3 locations across Canada and looking to plan 2 more this fiscal. Further expansion of various programs is being developed to support plasma sufficiency in Canada.   

As a part of Canadian Blood Services for the past 19 years, Judy has extensive experience in donor recruitment and support. Previously Judy worked as an Associate Director in donor recruitment with the Donor Relations division of the whole blood donation division, working on strategies to build a strong donation profile for Canadian Blood Services.

Judy lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with her husband Ron and her two sons, Sean, and Ryan.

PEP hours: 1.0

CPS credits: 0

*Note: PEP hours and/or CPS credits will only be awarded upon successful completion of the quiz.