Blood plasma, the straw-coloured part of our blood that is composed of a variety of essential proteins including immunoglobulins, is essential for meeting the medical and therapeutic needs of vulnerable patients. We collect blood and plasma in order to ensure that patients with immunodeficiencies, autoimmune disorders, a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, and rare blood disorders can have access to the therapies they need. But are we collecting enough plasma to ensure uninterrupted, safe, and sufficient access to those often life-saving therapies? Is the collection model to which New Zealand currently adheres the most efficient?

To answer that question, this paper compares the main models of plasma collection used around the world and examines the policies that have an impact on these models. One model is a non-commercial model – private or public – that does not compensate donors for their plasma. Another is a commercial model that does compensate donors. A third model, a public-private partnership with donor compensation, has also emerged recently.