What do they use plasma for when you donate it

Plasma is the often forgotten part of blood. White blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets are important to body function. But plasma also plays a key role. This fluid carries the blood components throughout the body.

What do they use plasma for when you donate it

Facts about plasma

Plasma is the largest part of your blood. It makes up more than half (about 55%) of its overall content. When separated from the rest of the blood, plasma is a light yellow liquid. Plasma carries water, salts and enzymes.

The main role of plasma is to take nutrients, hormones, and proteins to the parts of the body that need it. Cells also put their waste products into the plasma. The plasma then helps remove this waste from the body. Blood plasma also carries all parts of the blood through your circulatory system.

How does plasma keep you healthy?

Plasma is a critical part of the treatment for many serious health problems. This is why there are blood drives asking people to donate blood plasma.

Along with water, salt, and enzymes, plasma also contains important components. These include antibodies, clotting factors, and the proteins albumin and fibrinogen. When you donate blood, healthcare providers can separate these vital parts from your plasma. These parts can then be concentrated into various products. These products are then used as treatments that can help save the lives of people suffering from burns, shock, trauma, and other medical emergencies.

The proteins and antibodies in plasma are also used in therapies for rare chronic conditions. These include autoimmune disorders and hemophilia. People with these conditions can live long and productive lives because of the treatments. In fact, some health organizations call plasma "the gift of life."

Donating plasma

If you want to donate plasma to help others in need, you will go through a screening process. This is to make sure your blood is healthy and safe. If you qualify as a plasma donor, you'll spend about an hour and a half at a clinic on every follow-up visit.

During the actual blood donation process, your blood is drawn through a needle placed in a vein in one arm. A special machine separates the plasma and often the platelets from your blood sample. This process is called plasmapheresis. The remaining red blood cells and other blood components are then returned to your body, along with a little saline (salt) solution.

Type AB plasma can be given to people of all blood types. Because type AB blood is rare in the U.S., this plasma is usually in short supply.

At noncommercial donation sites, people can donate plasma every 28 days, up to 13 times a year. To learn more about donating blood, visit the American Red Cross . 

Plasma is the liquid part of your blood. You may have heard of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. But plasma is also part of your blood.

One of its jobs is keeping your blood pressure in a healthy range. It also carries important proteins, minerals, nutrients, and hormones to the right places in your body.

What Is Plasma Made Of?

Plasma is made up of about 90% water. It also has salts and enzymes. And it has antibodies that help fight infection, plus proteins called albumin and fibrinogen.

Plasma makes up the biggest part of your blood: about 55%. Even though blood appears red when you see it outside the body, plasma itself is a pale yellow color.

What Is the Function of Blood Plasma?

Plasma helps carry proteins, hormones, and nutrients to different cells in your body. These include:

  • Growth hormones that help your muscles and bones grow
  • Clotting factors that help you stop bleeding when you get a cut
  • Nutrients such as potassium and sodium that help your cells work

Plasma also helps your body:

  • Maintain normal blood pressure and blood volume levels
  • Get rid of the chemical waste from cells by dissolving it and carrying it away

Plasma Donation

Doctors can use plasma to treat different kinds of serious health problems.

Some of the elements in plasma, including the antibodies and chemicals that help your blood to clot, can help in medical emergencies like burns and trauma.

Other things that plasma donation is good for include:

  • Developing treatments. The antibodies and proteins can also be used to develop treatments for rare diseases, including some immune system problems.
  • Cancer. Adults and children with different kinds of cancer -- including leukemia -- sometimes need plasma transfusions.
  • Transplant surgery. Some people who get liver or bone marrow transplants need plasma.
  • Hemophilia. In this rare disorder, a person’s blood doesn’t have enough clotting factors, so donated plasma can help.

What to Expect During Plasma Donation

To donate plasma, you have to be at least 18 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds. You’ll need to get a physical examination and get tested for certain viruses like HIV and hepatitis.

Donating plasma is a little different from donating whole blood. When you donate whole blood, it goes straight into a collection bag and is later separated in a lab. When you donate plasma, the blood that’s drawn from your arm goes through a special machine to separate the different parts of your blood.

The parts that are left over, including your red blood cells, go back in your body, along with some saline (saltwater) solution. The process usually takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Is donating plasma good for your body?

Donating plasma doesn't only make you more aware of your diet. It may also have a positive impact on your physical health. One health benefit of regular plasma donation is the potential reduction of bad cholesterol levels and the increase of good cholesterol, especially in women.

What do they put back in you when you donate plasma?

It separates out the plasma and returns the remaining blood components to your body. Your blood cells (red and white) and platelets are returned to your body via the machine. During the donation, you are usually given saline to help you maintain your circulation. Sometimes you may receive oral fluids instead.

Why do we give plasma instead of blood?

Plasma Helps Patients with Rare Conditions Plasma donations are specifically used to treat over 80 different autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiencies, and rare blood disorders. Blood donations, on the other hand, are often used for blood transfusions.

Why do people sell plasma?

Source plasma donation and blood donation are critically important activities that contribute to saving lives. For many with rare diseases, these are the only therapies available to treat these chronic conditions. Your plasma will be used to create therapies that treat a variety of conditions and diseases.