When Vital CEO Bob Wright started giving blood over 25 years ago, it was soon discovered that he was a very special donor.

For tests showed that Brentwood-based Bob’s blood contained the right amounts of plasma and platelets, essential in so many forms of treatment for serious blood disorders, especially among the young.

Bob, who visits the Brentwood National Blood Service clinic every three weeks for his vital contribution, explained that he is connected to ‘something like a dialysis machine’. Then a quantity of blood is extracted and treated to separate the plasma and platelets before the remaining blood is mixed with distilled water mixture and returned into his system.

“Everyone who can should give blood,” said Bob a father of two. “Not everyone can provide plasma or platelets, which provide a kick-start in the production of bone marrow, vital in the treatment of conditions like Leukaemia.”

The importance of platelets?

Platelets, which stop bleeding, are given to patients unable to produce enough of their owns in their bone marrow. Patients with leukaemia or other cancers may have too few platelets as the result of their disease or treatment. Also, after major surgery or extensive injury, patients may need platelet transfusions to replace those lost through bleeding. As platelets can only be stored for a few days, regular and frequent donors are essential.

Plasma explained

Fresh frozen plasma is used after obstetric loss of blood (usually childbirth), during cardiac surgery, and to reverse any anti-coagulant treatment. It's also used to replace clotting factors after massive transfusions or when they are not being sufficiently produced, such as liver disease.