Blood donation

Plasma: new record in 2025, collected almost 920 tonnes

Minister Schillaci: 'Thanks to the generosity of donors and the volunteer system, approach young people to respond to the strong demand for plasma-derived drugs'

by Ernesto Diffidenti

16 January 2026

Aggiungi Il Sole 24 Ore
ai preferiti su Google

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Plasma collection in Italy is still growing and will set a new record in 2025. According to data compiled by the National Blood Centre, 919.7 tonnes of plasma were collected last year, over 11 tonnes more than in 2024.

'The Italian system,' comments Luciana Teofili, Director General of the National Blood Centre, 'shows that it is able to go beyond the planned targets and exceeds the threshold of 900 tonnes of plasma collected for the second year running, thanks to millions of voluntary and unpaid blood donors, the commitment of the associations and the National Health Service collection centres.

Despite these important numbers, however, self-sufficiency in plasma remains a challenge for Italy. While the collection of red blood cells is in balance, the need for plasma-derived drugs, especially immunoglobulins, continues to grow (+57% in the last ten years).

"The excellent results of the plasma collection remind us once again of the generosity and solidarity of the Italians, who save the lives of thousands of patients every day with this donation, and of the great work carried out by all the players in the system," emphasises Health Minister, Orazio Schillaci. "However, we must bear in mind that the demand for plasma-derived drugs continues to grow, and it will be necessary to bring more and more people, especially young people, closer to donating blood and plasma to meet the needs of Italian patients.

Increasing apheresis plasma collection

In 2025, 15.6 kilos of plasma per thousand inhabitants were delivered to the industry for the production of plasma-derived medicines. This is a further step towards the medium-term target of 18 kilos per thousand inhabitants, identified as the first step towards strategic independence.

It was possible to collect more plasma thanks to the increase in apheresis collection (+6.4%), a procedure that allows, thanks to a cell separator, only the plasma, the liquid part of the blood, to be collected and red blood cells and platelets to be returned to the donor. This type of donation allows more plasma to be collected than with a whole blood donation, enables faster recovery and more frequent donation, up to one donation every 15 days.

As far as immunoglobulins are concerned, Italy manages to cover about 60% of demand. It is better for the other key drug, albumin, for which the self-sufficiency quota is over 75%. The missing quota is found on the market at significant cost to the National Health Service.

Study on immunoglobulins underway

This is why, in addition to working alongside the main donor associations (Avis, Fidas, Fratres, and the Italian Red Cross) to increase plasma collection, the National Blood Centre has also launched a study to assess the clinical appropriateness of the use of immunoglobulins in hospitals. The study, financed by the National Centre for Disease Prevention and Control of the Ministry of Health, involves the Valle d'Aosta, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Marche, Umbria, Lazio, Apulia, Calabria and Sicily regions, as well as Agenas, Aifa, the Statistics Department of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità and the University of Milan-Bicocca.

'Our strategic goal,' Teofili concludes, 'is self-sufficiency in plasma collection as well. If on the one hand we have to convince more and more people to choose to donate regularly and to donate by apheresis, on the other hand the response of the donor population puts us in front of a great responsibility, that of the correct use of immunoglobulins. The study we have launched, the first of its kind in Europe, will provide us with fundamental tools to monitor the appropriate use of these drugs'.

Drug production from domestic plasma

Plasma is given to the pharmaceutical industry where it is used to produce life-saving medicines, so-called plasma derivatives, such as immunoglobulins, albumin or coagulation factors. Medicines produced from donated plasma are not used for commercial purposes; in fact, once the manufacturing process is finished, they are returned to the health facilities of the Italian Regions and Autonomous Provinces. Plasma-derived drugs are distributed free of charge to patients in need and any batches in excess of national requirements are donated to countries in need through international collaboration programmes.

Brand connect

I prossimi eventi

Tutti gli eventi

Notizie e approfondimenti sugli avvenimenti politici, economici e finanziari.