Plasma is useful to have in stock for treating failure of passive transfer in crias.
In the UK, it is now a legal requirement for blood to be processed at a licensed facility, one that holds an NFABBA authorisation (non food animal blood bank authorisation). The only facility that currently holds this license (March 2026) is the Pet Blood Bank at Loughborough. They have all the correct equipment and can process your animals’ blood safely and in a sterile manner, ensuring that you get back a safe product to administer to your crias.
Blood must be collected in appropriate collection bags with transfer bags attached. This allows the blood and plasma to remain in a closed/sterile system that reduces the chance of any contamination. If you or your vet wish to purchase the collection bags we are able to provide these. Blood must be transported to a licenced facility (in the UK) for processing: the Pet Blood Bank at Loughborough offers this service.
Think about this during the winter ahead of the birthing season as you will need time to plan for this process. You will need appropriate donor animals that are well-handled and do not require sedation, a vet who is comfortable performing blood collection, the right equipment and time. Donors need to be prepared prior to collection with adequate vaccination to boost the antibodies available in colostrum.
It is worth finding out whether your vet intends to run a blood collection day where owners in the same area can club together and save on courier costs to get the blood to the Pet Blood Bank and also to return it to you. If this isn’t something your vet is able to do for you, find out if any other owners in your area know of a blood collection day being offered by a different vet. If you want to set up one yourself and need a vet, please contact us and we’d be happy to help.
Please contact us for details.
See also: Blood & Plasma Collection