What is plasma and why should you donate it?

What is plasma and why should you donate it?

It’s yellow, mostly water and makes up over half your blood volume. Plasma is a lifesaver, but the only thing more incredible than how many lives it can save is how little people know about it. 

To understand what plasma is, we need to break down what role it plays in our body. Your blood is made up of three key components. Red cells are the delivery drivers, carrying oxygen to your organs and removing carbon dioxide. Platelets act like emergency responders, rushing to the site of a cut or injury to form clots and stop bleeding. Then there’s plasma. You can think of plasma like a liquid highway red cells and platelets use to move around your body, but that’s not all. Plasma is also filled with vital proteins, antibodies, clotting factors, nutrients and hormones that are essential to your health and wellbeing.  

With so many vital elements packed into plasma, it’s no wonder doctors and scientists have turned to this life-changing donation time and time again to develop treatments for recipients in need, here are just a few:  

  • Treating immune disorders: The antibodies found in your plasma can be used to create medications like Immunoglobulin, which can be a lifeline for people living with auto-immune conditions. 
     
  • Supporting patients with chronic conditions: Plasma’s clotting factors can be used to create therapies for patients with chronic conditions like haemophilia and other clotting disorders. 
     
  • Emergency and trauma care: In an emergency plasma has a vital role to play. It can be used to treat severe burns, internal haemorrhaging and other complications that may occur during surgery. 
       
  • Protecting unborn babies: In some pregnancies, a mother’s immune system can attack her baby’s red blood cells, this is known as Rh disease. To prevent this, doctors can administer anti-D, a special medication made from plasma.  

Did you know there are over 18 life-changing uses for plasma? Discover all the ways your plasma can be used to help those in need here. 

 
What’s the difference between plasma and whole blood donation? 

Donating plasma isn’t that different to giving whole blood. Your donation is collected using a single needle, but instead of storing all the donated blood, it’s processed in an apheresis machine where the plasma is removed, and your red blood cells are returned to you. The biggest difference for the donor is time as a plasma donation can take around 45 minutes – just enough time to binge the latest episode of your favourite TV show!  

 

Ready to roll up your sleeve?  

Whether you’re a Lifeblood regular looking for a new way to save lives or you’re a first-time donor ready to do your bit to help those in need, there’s never been a better time to give plasma. The need for this life-changing donation is always rising and new donors are in demand.  

 

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