Where does the alpha-1 antitrypsin come from that goes into making augmentation therapy products?
Augmentation therapy products are made from plasma donated through plasma donation centers run by several companies. Plasma donation is distinct from blood donation. People can donate plasma very frequently (as often as every week), and plasma can be frozen and stored for many months. This is very important for plasma safety as plasma centers routinely test a potential donor for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, etc., then take the plasma donations and freeze them. Two to six months later, they retest the donor for the various viruses and, if all the testing is negative, they release the plasma that was collected 2-6 months before. If the donor doesn’t return for the repeat testing, the plasma is discarded.
Augmentation therapy products are made from plasma donated through plasma donation centers. These centers are run by several companies. Plasma donation is distinct from blood donation. People can donate plasma very frequently (as often as every week), and plasma can be frozen and stored for many months. To ensure plasma safety, plasma centers routinely test a potential donor for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, etc., then take the plasma donations and freeze them. Two to six months later, they retest the donor for the various viruses and, if all the testing is negative, they release the plasma that was collected 2-6 months before. If the donor doesn’t return for the repeat testing, the plasma is discarded.
