International Plasma Awareness Week
International Plasma Awareness Week is a global call to celebrate how plasma donors make a real impact on treatment. It brings focus to life-saving plasma donation and how this unique part of blood becomes medicine for people with rare and serious conditions.
Position plasma donation as a life-saving act and drive awareness/recruitment through patient stories and educational outreach during the first week of October.
- Share real donor/patient stories to humanize plasma therapy and inspire action
- Partner with schools to educate young people on plasma medicine and build future donor pipeline
- Highlight rare disease patients whose lives depend on plasma-based treatments
- Feature plasma collection centers and healthcare providers in awareness campaigns
International Plasma Awareness Week began in 2013 as a global initiative led by the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA) along with its member plasma-collection centers.
It set out to deepen public understanding of plasma therapy, spotlighting donors and supporting patients who depend on these treatments.
Organizers chose the first full week of October to unite clinics, industry leaders, and patient advocates in sharing reliable facts on how plasma-based medications work and why they matter.
Founders saw a chance to connect people with the idea that plasma is a vital medicine. They wanted the public to value donation as a life-saving act.
Each year since 2013, this campaign has helped improve awareness, inspired more donations, and offered a platform for patient voices to be heard.
Today, that focused week continues to grow and unite communities worldwide around a shared goal of better health.
Organizers emphasize three clear goals. The first is to raise awareness of safe plasma collection. They honor donors who help change lives. In addition, they explain how therapies made from donated plasma support people with rare, complex medical conditions.
That simple mission gives everyone a role—from donors to teachers to public figures—to speak up and spread understanding.
PPTA’s work highlights the global nature of the plasma need. Teams walk through halls in Europe and the Americas, building partnerships with policymakers and patient groups.
That effort brings real results. It helps shape guidance, open centers, and support systems for people living with conditions that depend on plasma therapies. Patient and donor experiences fuel these advocacy efforts, giving them real meaning and power.
Looking back over its first decade, International Plasma Awareness Week has pulled together voices from clinics, centers, patient communities, and policymakers.
In 2022, it marked ten years, showing steady growth in reach and impact. That momentum continues today, as the week expands across more countries and touches more lives.
Start with a Real Story
Sharing a personal experience can make a big difference. If you or someone you know has donated plasma or received plasma-based treatment, take a few minutes to write or record that story. Post it online, or speak about it at a local event. Real stories help people understand why plasma matters and make the topic feel human, not distant. They turn facts into feelings, which often leads others to care and act.
Talk to a Local School
Reach out to a teacher or school counselor and offer to speak to a class. You don’t need to be an expert—just someone who wants to spread helpful knowledge. Use simple visuals or a short video to explain what plasma is and how it’s used to treat rare illnesses. Young people often carry these lessons forward, sharing them with their families or looking into donation when they’re old enough. A short visit can leave a lasting impression.