It will be the first time the centre has been available in town since its April visit was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lifeblood also announced on October 13 that inked blood donors will no longer have to wait four months since their last tattoo to donate plasma.
A study of 25,000 tattooed donors undertaken by Lifeblood in partnership with the Kirby Institute at UNSW found those inked in Australian licensed tattoo studios are safe to donate plasma.
All donated plasma in Australia is tested for HIV and hepatitis B and C, but it takes time for a recent infection — which may be contracted from a contaminated needle — to become detectable.
“While there is a link between needle procedures such as tattoos and blood-borne viruses, this new research demonstrates that those who received tattoos in Australian licensed or regulated premises are safe to donate,” Lifeblood spokesperson Shae Burns said.
The change will boost plasma stocks by an estimated 50,000 donations each year.
Plasma is the yellow liquid that makes up more than half of what flows through our veins.
It’s used in hospitals to treat trauma and bleeding, but it's also used to make life-saving medicine for patients with immunodeficiency and auto-immune diseases, cancer, haemophilia, kidney conditions and burns.
“People with tattoos are perfect plasma donors because we know they’re not afraid of needles — one of the biggest barriers for new donors donating blood or plasma for the first time,” Ms Burns said.
“Around 15 per cent of Australians think having a tattoo means you can’t donate blood at all, so we’re hopeful this change will help us collect the more than 15,000 plasma donations needed by Aussie patients each week.”
Australia is one of the first countries in the world to remove the waiting period, and Lifeblood researchers hope their work will pave the way for other countries to follow suit.
The mobile donor centre will be in Echuca from November 9 to 24, and only takes blood donations.
Bookings are essential in order to maintain social distancing, so everyone who’d like to donate can book their time by calling 13 14 95, visiting lifeblood.com.au or downloading the Donate Blood app.
The nearest sites to donate plasma are in Shepparton and Bendigo.
To donate visit lifeblood.com.au or call 13 14 95.
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