Countless lives are saved each year through plasma donations. While many know the importance of donating whole blood, plasma donation has uniquely saved patients’ lives worldwide.
According to the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA), plasma makes up around 55% of the overall content of a person’s blood. This yellowish liquid is rich in proteins, including albumin, immunoglobulins, and clotting factors, vital for maintaining body functions.
Plasma’s significance lies in its versatility and the diverse therapies in which it plays a crucial role. Plasma donation’s uses range from medical research on immune deficiency treatment to emergency care situations.
In this post, you’ll learn about the various blood plasma uses. From the plasma donation process to its various applications in medical treatments, we will explore the impact plasma donations have on saving lives.
What is Plasma, and Why Is It Important?
Plasma is the yellowish fluid in the blood that carries proteins, red and white blood cells, water, salt, and other blood components.
Some proteins in plasma, such as fibrinogen and clotting factors, play an important role in stopping bleeding.
Medical practitioners use plasma to treat immune deficiencies, severe burns, and blood clotting disorders.
Researchers from the Stanford Blood Center (SBC) say that the value of plasma was discovered during the Second World War.
Investments were made to better understand how this blood component could be used to treat shock among critically wounded soldiers and civilians.
Today, one of the many uses for plasma is for medical research, with specialists discovering its numerous lifesaving properties.
Collection Process
Plasma can be collected in two primary ways: through apheresis or whole blood donation.
- Apheresis: This is a specialized procedure where blood is drawn from the donor, the plasma is separated, and the remaining components, such as red blood cells and platelets, are returned to the donor’s body.
This method is particularly efficient because it allows for the collection of a larger volume of plasma in a single session. - Whole Blood Donation: This process involves collecting all components of blood simultaneously. The plasma is later separated from the other components in a laboratory.
While whole blood donation can be done more frequently, apheresis is often preferred for plasma collection due to its efficiency and the ability to target specific components.
Freezing, Testing and Processing
Each unit of plasma collected undergoes comprehensive testing and freezing processes to ensure recipient safety. Immediately after collection, plasma is rapidly frozen to preserve its quality.
Rigorous screening methods are then employed to test for infectious diseases, including HIV, hepatitis B and C, and other potential pathogens that could be transmitted through blood products.
These steps are crucial in maintaining the safety and efficacy of plasma-derived therapies.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provides guidelines, control measures, and regulatory standards that must be enforced in donation centers and storage facilities.
These regulations cover various aspects, including donor eligibility, testing procedures, labeling, and storage conditions.
Plasma Uses in Medical Research and Treatment
Donated plasma is stored after testing and will be matched to various patients or sent to research facilities. Here are some ways it is used to benefit patients.
Use in Medical Treatments
Here are some of the ways donated plasma is used for treating medical conditions:
- Immunotherapy: Plasma-derived immunoglobulins play a critical role in immunotherapy, helping to treat immunodeficiencies and autoimmune disorders.
Immunoglobulins help the immune system identify and neutralize foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria. - Coagulation Disorders: Hemophilia is a genetic disorder where patients lack specific clotting factors, leading to prolonged bleeding. Clotting Factor VIII and Factor IX concentrates are infused into patients to promote normal blood clotting during treatment.
Emergency and Trauma Care
Plasma donations play an important role in treating patients suffering from burns, wounds, and other emergency conditions:
- Albumin for Hypovolemia: Albumin solutions are administered to patients experiencing shock, burns, or severe liver conditions to help maintain blood volume and pressure.
By expanding the blood plasma volume, albumin helps restore circulation, prevent organ failure, and stabilize patients in critical care. - Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) for Bleeding Control: FFP is administered to trauma patients to replenish essential clotting factors quickly.
This helps control bleeding and stabilize patients experiencing significant blood loss due to injuries. - Low Fibrinogen Treatment: Cryoprecipitate is a blood product rich in specific plasma components, primarily fibrinogen.
It is used to treat patients with low fibrinogen levels, which can occur due to blood loss, medication, or genetic conditions and lead to bleeding.
Plasma in Research and Development
Donated plasma is used in vaccine research and the developing of plasma-derived therapies.
- Vaccine Research: Convalescent plasma contains antibodies that can help fight infections. This approach has been explored in treating infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and influenza.
- Plasma-Derived Therapies: Innovations such as recombinant technology (National Human Genome Research Institute) and gene therapy are being studied to produce clotting factors and other plasma proteins.
Schedule an Appointment to Donate Plasma
Donated plasma goes a long way to help save lives. If you want to donate, our team at ABO Plasma Cherry Hill can facilitate it for you, providing customer-focused services for lifesaving therapies. For more information, fill out our contact form.