Most people understand the importance of whole blood donations and what they’re used for. However, only a few are aware of the many applications of donated plasma.
Millions of Americans yearly donate blood plasma at the Red Cross and private plasma donation centers. Demand continues to grow for this life-saving resource, which is a lifeline for people in emergency medical situations as well as patients with chronic, rare and genetic illnesses.
You’re in the right place if you’d like to learn more about plasma and its uses. In this blog, we dive into the topic of plasma and answer commonly asked questions such as, “What is plasma used for?” and “How does donating plasma help save lives?”
What Is Plasma?
First, it’s essential to know what plasma is. Plasma is the largest component of the blood, comprising 55% of its total volume. The rest is composed of white blood cells (WBCs), red blood cells (RBCs) and platelets or thrombocytes.
Plasma is a light-yellow fluid that serves as the liquid base of blood. It’s up to 92% water and contains these components:
- Coagulants
- Plasma proteins
- Electrolytes
- Immunoglobulins or antibodies
What Is Plasma Used for in the Body?
Plasma has many functions, including carrying nutrients, hormones and proteins to parts of the body that need them. Plasma also:
- Keeps blood pressure steady
- Maintain blood volume
- Forms blood clots to prevent excessive bleeding
- Transports waste products to the kidneys and liver
- Regulates body temperature
- Fight off viruses, bacteria and toxins
Plasma also transports other blood components (platelets, RBCs and WBCs) throughout the body.
What Is a Plasma Donation Used For?
If you have given or are planning to give plasma, you might wonder, “What is my plasma donation used for?”
Plasma donations are essential because they serve many purposes and have several medical and research applications. The plasma you donate can be used in the following:
Plasma Transfusions
The plasma you donate may be given as transfusions in a hospital setting. These transfusions are given to increase blood volume and stop excessive bleeding in patients with blood clotting disorders. Plasma transfusions may also be prescribed for trauma patients experiencing shock to replenish blood volume.
Other applications of plasma transfusions include:
- In some types of open-heart surgery
- In transplant surgery
- Severe infections
- Severe liver disease or liver failure
Plasma-Derived Therapies
Pharmaceutical companies use plasma to make plasma-derived therapies. These are medicines that countless people with rare and chronic diseases rely on to manage their conditions. For many of these conditions, there is no other treatment.
The process of making plasma-derived medicines comprises several steps. The first is collecting plasma from donors using a technique called plasmapheresis.
Plasma from multiple donors is pooled together, processed and concentrated to manufacture treatments for conditions such as:
- Kawasaki disease
- Hemophilia
- Von Willebrand disease
- Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
- Hereditary angioedema
- Primary immunodeficiency
Plasma donations for plasma-derived therapies are crucial because, for many rare and chronic diseases, there is no alternative treatment. Additionally, it takes many plasma donations to make these medications.
For instance, over 1200 plasma donations are needed for one year’s treatment for a hemophilia patient. And, to treat a patient with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy treatment for a year, 465 plasma donations are needed.
Rabies Prevention
Human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) is a plasma-derived medication given to patients exposed to the rabies virus. It is administered to previously unvaccinated individuals before they undergo anti-rabies post-exposure prophylaxis.
The body takes time to produce antibodies after a rabies vaccine. In the interim, HRIG immediately provides antibodies against the rabies virus, preventing it from infecting cells.
Tetanus Prevention
Tetanus immune globulin (TIG) is a medicine made from the plasma of donors who have been vaccinated against tetanus. TIG is given to people at risk of tetanus but haven’t been vaccinated and individuals who have been vaccinated but have a weak immune system. TIG works by providing immediate antibodies and protection against tetanus.
Treatment for Rh Disease
Rhesus (Rh) factor is a protein people inherit from their parents. If a person has the Rh protein in their cells, they’re Rh-positive. If they don’t, they’re Rh-negative.
If an Rh-negative mother is carrying an Rh-negative fetus, it could result in Rh sensitization or Rh disease. In this condition, the mother’s immune system sees the fetus’s blood as foreign. It develops antibodies that can attack the baby’s red blood cells, putting the fetus at risk.
Pharmaceutical companies use plasma to make Rh immune-globulin, a treatment that keeps mothers’ bodies from developing antibodies that could harm the developing fetus. Rh immune-globulin shots can prevent potential complications of Rh sensitization, such as brain damage and death.
For Medical and Scientific Research
Medical and scientific researchers use donated blood plasma to help with drug discovery and development. They use plasma to study the effects of potential drugs on cells and tissues and examine how these drugs interact with the components of plasma.
Plasma is also used to study the mechanism of disease progression and to identify biomarkers of various diseases.
Your Plasma Donation Matters: Give Plasma Today
To summarize, the answer to the question “What is donated plasma used for?” is multifaceted. Plasma is crucial in various medical treatments, including transfusions, plasma-derived therapies, rabies prevention and Rh immune globulin injections. It is also invaluable for medical and scientific research.
At ABO Plasma, we are thankful to plasma donors for helping us advance our goal of helping biopharmaceutical companies develop life-saving, plasma-based therapies. By donating plasma, you can make a significant contribution to the lives of others and help advance the field of medicine.
Our facility in Glassboro is certified by the International Quality Plasma Program (IQPP), which means we are committed to donor safety and education. When you donate plasma at ABO Plasma, we will gladly compensate you for your time and generous contribution.
Book an appointment to donate today!