Self Reliance in Blood Products

Iran has reached self-sufficiency in blood and blood products, said Ali Akbar Pour-Fathollah, head of the IBTO on the 44th anniversary of Iran’s Blood Transfusion Organization. The country is now capable of producing medicine using plasma supplied by volunteer  blood donors, Pour-Fathollah said, adding that blood donation is strictly voluntary for more than a decade. Among the donors 54% are regular donors. “In Semnan Province regular donors make up 70% of all donations.” He added that the maximum age appropriate for blood donation is 60 and invited those above 18 to join the population of blood donors.