CSL Plasma

CSL Plasma is a plasmapheresis company which claims to be one of the largest companies of its kind in the world. It is a subsidiary of CSL Limited, a biotechnology company based in Melbourne, Australia, but has its own headquarters in Boca Raton, Florida. The company employs around 17,000 staff and has over 300 locations in multiple countries. Collected plasma, encouraged through company-sponsored programs such as "Plasma P.A.L.S.", is used for testing or manufacturing plasma-derived therapies and medicine. The company was a finalist in the 2021 and 2022 South Florida Business Journal "Business of the Year Awards".[1] In 2023, the company was made to make settlements in two discrimination lawsuits.

Overview

CSL Plasma is a subsidiary of its sister company CSL Behring, itself a subsidiary of CSL Limited, a biotechnology company based in Melbourne, Australia.[2][3] It is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida,[4] and operates a total of 320 collection centers in the United States,[5] and a further 19 more in other nations including China, Hungary, and Germany as of 2023.[3] It employs around 17,000 employees as medical staff, phlebotomists, plasma processors, operation managers, and receptionists, with each location requiring around 50 staff members to operate.[3][5]

Plasma collection

CSL Plasma advertises itself as being open to the general public with some exceptions, with requirements for donors on its website including the donor must be in good health, be 18 years of age or older, weigh at least 110 lbs, have no piercings or tattoos within the last four months, and have a valid government-issued ID, Social Security number, and address.[6] It is recommended all donors also avoid alcohol for 24 hours and smoking for 3 hours before donating.[6] The company uses the Rika Plasma Donation System to collect plasma from donors in a process that takes around 25 minutes.[7] Some locations are equipped to hold up to 48 donation beds, allowing multiple donations to take place at a time in one location.[4]

Collected plasma is then either sent to a CSL Plasma testing laboratory or CSL Behring, where it is used for testing or manufacturing plasma-derived therapies and medicine.[7] Specific therapies include those treating hemophilia, primary immunodeficiency, von Willebrand disease, hereditary angioedema, hereditary respiratory disease, and neurological disorders; as well as in burn, cardiac, major trauma, and organ transplants surgeries.[4][2] Due to health concerns, a donor's first donation cannot be used until a second donation is given.[6] A monetary reward is given as an incentive for first-time donors, which is given on a reloadable prepaid card. A loyalty program named "iGive Rewards" also exists for returning donors.[6] Staff members have been known to donate in their free time.[1][3]

Programs and initiatives

CSL Plasma runs a program called "Plasma Patients And Life-Savers" or "Plasma P.A.L.S." (previously called "Adopt-A-Patient" before September 2022) where plasma donors meet regular patients of plasma therapy, who tell their story to raise awareness and encourage donating.[8] Around Easter, certain locations have hosted egg hunts.[9]

At the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the company partnered with humanitarian organizations including the World Health Organization, Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, and UNICEF to provide medication to impacted civilians and refugees.[10] The company had previously partnered with the Red Cross to help provide relief after natural disasters including fires, hurricanes, and tornadoes that affected donation areas and staff.[11]

Reception

CSL Plasma was a finalist in the South Florida Business Journal 2021[1] and 2022 "Business of the Year Awards" in the business category based on revenue.[12]

Secondary

External links