Talecris Plasma Resources Inc., a subsidiary of Research Triangle Park, N.C.-based Talecris Biotherapeutics Inc., says it planned to open a plasma donation center in north Spokane this week.

Steven Goldsmith, a Talecris spokesman, says the center will occupy a 10,000-square-foot leased space at 510 E. Francis and initially will employ about 20 people.

"We have a controlled opening period, lasting until about January, at which time we'll look to grow the number of donors we can accept in a day," Goldsmith says. "We may also look to add additional employees at that time, so there may be some job opportunities."

The building was remodeled by Lafayette, La.,-based International BioResources LLC, a plasma collection company, Goldsmith says.

Talecris only has plans for one plasma donation center in the Spokane area.

Plasma collection company ZLB Plasma has two plasma donation centers in Spokane, at 104 W. Third, and at 9621 E. Sprague. ZLB Plasma is a wholly owned subsidiary of CSL Behring, which is headquartered in King of Prussia, Penn.

Goldsmith says plasma donation can take up to two hours. People can donate twice a week, he says, and can receive $40 for each donation.

Plasma is the straw-colored liquid portion of the blood that remains after the removal of red blood cells, leukocytes, platelets, and other cellular components, says Goldsmith.

It's used to treat patients with a genetic form of emphysema; hemophilia and other coagulation disorders; immune disorders; shock; blood loss due to trauma, burns, or surgery; and hepatitis, tetanus, or rabies exposure, he says.