The Belgian plasmapheresis programme.

In Belgium 6000 non-remunerated donors regularly give plasma by the double plasmapheresis technique. The donation frequency is once every two weeks. Thus 75 000-80 000 liters of plasma are collected annually. This figure represents 7 500-8 000 liters of plasmapheresis plasma/10(6) inhabitants. Furthermore 5000 liters of plasma/10(6) inhabitants are recovered from whole blood (60% utilization of erythrocytes-concentrates). The 13 000 liters of plasma/10(6) inhabitants allow the country to cover all the national needs of albumin, coagulation factors and immunoglobulins. The programme is fully described and presented as a unique model of national self-sufficiency avoiding red cells wastage, and being entirely based on non-remunerated donors.