Half of Spaniards are unaware that plasma can be donated separately from blood

Barcelona, Spain, October 5, 2026 – A Grifols survey conducted by Kantar among 2,000 adults across Spain as part of International Plasma Week reveals that half of the population is unaware that plasma can be donated separately from conventional blood donation. The survey also highlights a significant lack of awareness about the therapeutic applications of this blood component: 42% of the population does not know that plasma is used to manufacture essential medicines for thousands of patients.

Plasma is the liquid component of blood and accounts for approximately 55% of total blood volume. It contains essential proteins that perform vital functions in the body, including immune response and blood clotting. When a person does not have sufficient levels of these proteins, they may develop chronic or rare diseases and, in some cases, serious conditions that require ongoing treatment.

Although 84% of Spaniards say they know what blood plasma is, only 58% know that it is used to manufacture essential medicines. These treatments are used for a wide range of conditions, including immunodeficiencies, certain neurological diseases, bleeding disorders, liver diseases and certain respiratory and autoimmune conditions. In addition, certain plasma proteins play a critical role in acute and emergency situations, such as severe burns, major bleeding, shock and certain complications associated with complex surgical procedures.

The survey also shows limited awareness of plasmapheresis, the procedure specifically used to collect plasma by separating it from the blood and returning the remaining blood components, such as red blood cells and platelets, to the donor. Only one in two Spaniards says they are familiar with this technique, which differs from conventional blood donation. Plasmapheresis is an efficient method of collecting plasma because it allows significantly larger volumes to be collected during each donation.

Despite this, willingness to donate plasma is high. Seventy-five percent of respondents say they would be willing to donate plasma if they had more information about the process and a donation center nearby. This percentage rises to 78% among women.

“The results show a significant opportunity to increase awareness of plasma and the role it plays in manufacturing medicines for thousands of patients,” said Eduardo Herrero, Executive Vice President, Biopharma Industrial and Scientific Innovation at Grifols. “The high willingness to donate reflected in the survey suggests that the main challenge is not a lack of willingness among the public, but rather a lack of awareness about this type of donation and its impact on the availability of treatments that many people need on a recurring basis for years or even throughout their lives.”

“We believe there is still a significant lack of awareness about the importance of plasma and the role donations play in the production of essential medicines, such as immunoglobulins, which are needed by people with immunodeficiencies. It is important for society to understand that behind every plasma donation are treatments that can be critical for patients who need them on an ongoing basis,” said Carlos Jiménez Contreras, president of the Spanish Association of Primary Immunodeficiencies (AEDIP).

For people with primary immunodeficiencies, plasma-derived medicines are a standard part of their treatment to manage the disease, prevent complications and maintain their quality of life.

A growing gap between plasma supply and demand

The survey results come amid sustained growth in demand for plasma-derived medicines. This increase is driven by factors including new therapeutic indications, greater use of these treatments for primary and secondary immunodeficiencies, an aging population and improvements in patient diagnosis.

In Spain, the use of immunoglobulins has increased by 21% over the past two years and by 114% over the past decade, according to data from the Spanish Ministry of Health.[1] Demand for these medicines continues to grow faster than the availability of plasma collected in Spain, widening the existing gap between supply and demand.

For many patients, plasma-derived medicines are not one-time treatments but therapies they need on a recurring basis for years or even throughout their lives.

The manufacture of certain plasma-derived treatments requires a large number of donations. It is estimated that medicines for patients with immunodeficiencies require approximately 130 plasma donations per patient per year through plasmapheresis. In the case of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), this figure can exceed 400 donations per year, while treatments for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency may require approximately 900 donations per patient per year.

Plasma-derived medicines have unique characteristics that require a differentiated approach. They are derived exclusively from human plasma and depend directly on plasma donations. In addition, their supply chain is complex and highly specialized, and the manufacturing process can take more than 12 months from donation to the point at which the medicine becomes available to patients.

Although plasma donations have increased slightly in recent years, growth remains insufficient to meet current demand for plasma-derived medicines. Increasing the amount of plasma collected to help close this gap can be achieved, among other measures, through plasmapheresis.

Despite having the industrial capacity to manufacture plasma-derived medicines, Spain remains far from self-sufficient in obtaining this biological raw material. In 2025, self-sufficiency in immunoglobulins stood at 26%, while it reached 64% for albumin and 39% for factor VIII.[2] The current self-sufficiency gap is estimated at approximately 1.5 million liters of plasma.

This situation is not unique to Spain. Europe remains structurally dependent on plasma sourced from third countries, particularly the United States, to ensure the supply of plasma-derived medicines.

The fact that these treatments are irreplaceable in many cases makes plasma a strategic resource for the sustainability of healthcare systems and for ensuring equitable patient access to essential medicines.

Coinciding with International Plasma Week, the survey results highlight an opportunity to strengthen public awareness of plasma, its therapeutic applications and the different types of donation available, amid growing demand for essential medicines and the need to move toward greater plasma self-sufficiency in Spain and Europe.

Results are based on a survey conducted by Kantar for Grifols among 2,000 members of the general population aged 18 and older in Spain between August 24 and September 3, 2026.

For more information: https://www.grifols.com/en/ipaw2026