Demand for plasma has reached a record level, prompting a fresh call for 50,000 Australians to donate the blood product this month.

About 5000 Australians receive a plasma infusion or are treated with medicines made from plasma each day.

Demand for the blood product grew by about 13 per cent over the past year due to more people being diagnosed with immunodeficiencies.

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood needs 1600 donors to give plasma every day in October to keep up with need around the country.

Stuart Chesneau, who oversees Lifeblood’s plasma program, said the early diagnosis of serious medical conditions like cancer and improved care was behind the growing need for plasma.

“Early diagnosis has really driven up a lot of demand. It has gone up between seven and 10 per cent every year for the last decade,” Mr Chesneau told AAP.

“We’ve got the highest voluntary rate of plasma donation in the world per capita, but still the demand for those products continue to rise.”

Plasma is protein-rich liquid that is the basis of blood, which can be used to create medicines for patients with immunodeficiencies or given in a transfusion to help fight infections.

“About 30,000 plasma medicines go out every week in Australia,” Mr Chesneau said.

“It takes up to 15 donations to make one of those medicines.”

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood used International Plasma Awareness Week to address the misconception that people with tattoos cannot donate blood products.

Mr Chesneau said rules on who can donate plasma were not as strict as those for donating blood.

“If you got a tattoo today, you can donate plasma tomorrow. There is no delay at all,” he said.

Anyone unsure about whether they can give blood products can check their eligibility on the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood website.

-AAP