Most plasma centers are located in the United States, which comprises approximately 75% of the global supply of plasma material. While traditionally most US plasma centers were built in under-employed urban markets, a shift occurred in ~15 years ago where plasma collection operators began to build centers in more diverse markets. While those legacy centers built in under-employed urban markets still exist, plasma centers in the United States are now widely distributed across the country, often located in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Key locations include:
1. Major Cities: Large cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston host numerous plasma centers due to their high population density and accessibility.
2. College Towns: Areas with significant college and university populations, like Austin, TX, and Columbus, OH, have many plasma centers that cater to the often flexible and non-traditional schedules of university students.
3. Suburban Areas: Suburban regions around major metropolitan areas also have plasma centers to cater to the population outside city centers. Las Vegas, NV and Portland, OR are good examples.
4. Economic Hubs: Regions with strong economic activity, like Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, and Denver, are prime locations for plasma centers due to the large and diverse donor base.
5. Mid-Sized Cities: Mid-sized cities such as Indianapolis, IN and Albuquerque, NM have plasma centers to serve regional needs.
6. Military Bases: Communities that have a strong military influence like Clarksville, TN and Tacoma, WA have plasma centers.
7. United States and Mexico Border Communities: Brownsville, TX and Calexico, CA, would fit this category.
Prominent plasma collection companies, including CSL Plasma (www.CSLPlasma.com), BioLife Plasma Services (www.BioLifePlasma.com), Octapharma Plasma (www.OctapharmaPlasma.com), Grifols Plasma (www.GrifolsPlasma.com . . .also doing business as Biomat USA or Talecris Plasma Resources), and Kedrion (www.KEDPlasma.us) operate multiple centers across the US, ensuring broad geographic coverage to meet the demand for plasma-derived products.
For plasma collection centers outside the US such as in Germany, Austria, Czechia (Czech Republic), Hungary, Egypt, Canada, etc., similar market and demographic considerations are evaluated.
Plasma collection center consultants working at Aurea Vita Advisors (AVA) have experience doing market feasibility studies, business intelligence, and have served as advisors or been directly responsible for the market selection of newly launched centers for fractionators. Because of the large amount of capital required to launch a plasma center, and the 10-20 year commitment toward operating a plasma center, selecting the right market to have a sustainable supply of human plasma via the collection center is crucial.
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