Camelid plasma banking
Our VMD-accredited camelid plasma banking service is available to our clients, camelid owners and referring veterinary practices.
Why do camelids need plasma?
Alpaca and llama blood banking can be lifesaving, as plasma in blood is rich in proteins, antibodies and clotting factors (specialised proteins).
Camelid plasma transfusions are most commonly used to treat newborn alpacas and llamas suffering from Failure of Passive Transfer (FPT). Without sufficient antibodies from their mother’s milk, they can become dangerously vulnerable to infection in their first few days.
Plasma transfusion is the only reliable method for boosting immunity once the 24-hour absorption window has closed.
How it works
- As a dedicated camelid plasma bank, we can screen and process blood donations from healthy animals, responding rapidly when camelids need urgent care with a ready supply of healthy plasma.
- Plasma collection is quick and well tolerated.
- We take a blood sample via jugular venepuncture
- We separate the blood into plasma by centrifugation.
- This can then be frozen for storage at your holding (subject to veterinary prescription) or local vet practice.
- Legally, plasma can’t be transferred or sold to another holding, so it’s worthwhile to have your own bank of plasma readily available. We can offer the service in an emergency, however it is best to plan ahead.
Plasma banking for camelid owners
What makes a good donor?
We look for specific qualities to ensure the plasma is both safe and therapeutically effective.
An ideal donor will be:
- Healthy and well-nourished with a body condition score of 3 to 3.5 out of 5.
- Free from illness, parasites or chronic disease.
- Fully up-to-date with vaccinations. Ideally, we’ll boost your animal’s vaccinations 4–6 weeks before donation to maximise antibody levels.
- A suitable size and age. Adult animals (typically over three years old) weighing at least 60 kg make the safest donors.
- Negative on screening tests. Infectious disease screening (including BVD, Mycoplasma and Johnes) should take place at least two weeks before plasma banking.
- Calm and handleable. Donation is a straightforward procedure, but a settled temperament makes it easier and stress-free for your animal.
Full service (Chelmsford)
Camelid owners can travel to Chelmsford for a blood drive and immediate plasma processing. Frozen plasma is shipped directly to you or your nominated vet practice.
Referral packages for veterinary practices
Led by RCVS Advanced Practitioner Ami Sawran, our flexible camelid plasma banking service for veterinary practices is designed to integrate with your existing client relationships.
Practitioner-led
You determine donor suitability, conduct relevant pre-donation screening (if taken up) and perform the collection on-farm using our validated protocols.
You then ship (or drive) the raw blood to us for processing and freezing, and we courier it back or you can take it with you.
Full service (training)
We travel to you, train your team in blood donation, take the blood back to Chelmsford for processing and courier frozen plasma back to you.
If you’re a camelid owner or veterinary practice and would like to discuss a case or request a protocol pack, please contact our Chelmsford team directly on 01306 628489.