ImmunoTek Opens First Freedom Plasma Center in Virginia
By Sandy Santo
(Roanoke, VA) – The Roanoke community will be essential in meeting blood-plasma demand as the city welcomes a new Freedom Plasma donation center opening its doors on January 24, 2023. The new center is the company’s first location in Virginia, and it encourages the Roanoke community to learn more about donating their plasma to help save lives.
The U.S. provides two-thirds of the plasma used worldwide and is one of the few countries that allow healthcare companies to compensate donors financially for their time donating plasma. A community plasma donation center also provides a significant economic boost to the area.
“The new Roanoke center will have an economic impact of around $5 million annually,” said Blair McKinney, Chief Operating Officer of ImmunoTek Bio Centers, one of the partner companies that built and will operate the center. “The community initially sees benefits from the construction of the center, then from compensation paid to donors and the creation of healthcare-oriented jobs. It also generates a need for services from local small businesses; plus, our donors know they are helping save lives.”
Plasma donated at Freedom Plasma helps meet the worldwide demand for blood-plasma, the golden liquid part of blood used to create life-saving medicines and therapies for people suffering from various diseases and immune disorders. Treating just one patient for a year requires 130 – 1,200 plasma donations from healthy donors, making every donation vital.
“Our donors are making a difference in the lives of people facing life-altering medical conditions. For many of those patients, receiving donated plasma can mean the difference between life and death,” said Jerome Parnell III, CEO of ImmunoTek. “Research is currently showing promise in additional uses of plasma therapies in reducing or limiting the effects of Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia.”
To be eligible to donate plasma, a medical screening is conducted by in-house medical professionals, along with a medical history and physical exam. Donating plasma is much like a blood donation, and plasma is removed from the blood using a safe, sterile, self-contained automated process called plasmapheresis. The donor has the remaining red blood cells returned. Donors can give plasma up to twice a week.
“Seeing local donors walk through the doors of our center makes me so proud to be part of the Roanoke community. Donating plasma is a small investment of time that could make the difference between life or death for someone else,” said Gary Stromberg, Center Manager of the Roanoke Freedom Plasma center.
Freedom Plasma’s new location is at 4150 Melrose Ave, NW, and will operate Tuesday – Saturday. Walk-in donors are welcome for their first donation, and subsequent donations are by appointment only. If you need more information or want to make an appointment, call the center at 540-767-0064 or visit www.FreedomPlasma.com.
ABOUT FREEDOM PLASMA
Freedom Plasma was developed and is operated by ImmunoTek Bio Centers LLC in partnership with a global healthcare company and leading manufacturer of plasma-derived medicines. Freedom Plasma provides donors within the communities it serves the freedom to improve their financial position and help positively impact patients’ lives who rely on plasma-based therapies. Each plasma donation is essential and provides patients the freedom to live healthier and happier lives.
ABOUT IMMUNOTEK BIO CENTERS, LLC
ImmunoTek Bio Centers LLC is the largest and fastest-growing independent plasma collection center operator in the world. ImmunoTek is a global leader in developing a reliable plasma supply chain for international biotech companies, as well as partnering with organizations for ancillary projects related to blood plasma collection. Since its inception in 2013, ImmunoTek has built and operated more than 70 plasma collection centers, most of which have achieved or are in the process of achieving US FDA licensure and European certification. ImmunoTek currently has centers operating in 19 states, with 22 additional centers under development and planning underway for more than 60 additional sites over the next three years. For more information, visit www.ImmunoTek.com.
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