What Is Plasma? - Health Encyclopedia - URMC

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 ... Skiptomaincontent Coronavirus(COVID-19):LatestUpdates|VisitationPoliciesVisitationPoliciesVisitationPoliciesVisitationPoliciesVisitationPolicies|COVID-19Testing|VaccineInformationVaccineInformationVaccineInformation CLINICALSERVICES ServicesListing PatientCareLocations CostEstimator FindaDoctor InformationforReferringPhysicians MYCHARTLOGIN EDUCATION SchoolofMedicine&Dentistry SchoolofNursing GraduateEducation Residency&Fellowships DentalEducation FacultyByDepartment LibraryServices RESEARCH OurResearchers ClinicalandTranslationalSciencesInstitute URMCResearchNetwork LabsListing URVentures ClinicalTrials&Studies Research@URMCBlog ABOUTURMC Maps&Directions GivingtoURMC Departments&CentersList ContactInformation Newsroom EventCalendar URMCHome ExploreURMC Tests&Procedures InteractiveEncyclopediaTools HealthyLiving YourFamily DrugReference Herbs,Vitamins&Supplements PreventionPlanner URMC/Encyclopedia/Content SearchEncyclopedia WhatIsPlasma? Plasmaistheoftenforgottenpartofblood.Whitebloodcells,redbloodcells,and plateletsareimportanttobodyfunction.Butplasmaalsoplaysakeyrole.Thisfluid carriesthebloodcomponentsthroughoutthebody. Factsaboutplasma Plasmaisthelargestpartofyourblood.Itmakesupmorethanhalf(about55%)of itsoverallcontent.Whenseparatedfromtherestoftheblood,plasmaisalight yellowliquid.Plasmacarrieswater,saltsandenzymes. Themainroleofplasmaistotakenutrients,hormones,andproteinstotheparts ofthebodythatneedit.Cellsalsoputtheirwasteproductsintotheplasma.The plasmathenhelpsremovethiswastefromthebody.Bloodplasmaalsocarriesallparts ofthebloodthroughyourcirculatorysystem. Howdoesplasmakeepyouhealthy? Plasmaisacriticalpartofthetreatmentformanyserioushealthproblems.This iswhythereareblooddrivesaskingpeopletodonatebloodplasma. Alongwithwater,salt,andenzymes,plasmaalsocontainsimportantcomponents.These includeantibodies,clottingfactors,andtheproteinsalbuminandfibrinogen.When youdonateblood,healthcareproviderscanseparatethesevitalpartsfromyourplasma. Thesepartscanthenbeconcentratedintovariousproducts.Theseproductsarethen usedastreatmentsthatcanhelpsavethelivesofpeoplesufferingfromburns,shock, trauma,andothermedicalemergencies. Theproteinsandantibodiesinplasmaarealsousedintherapiesforrarechronic conditions.Theseincludeautoimmunedisordersandhemophilia.Peoplewiththeseconditions canlivelongandproductivelivesbecauseofthetreatments.Infact,somehealth organizationscallplasma"thegiftoflife." Donatingplasma Ifyouwanttodonateplasmatohelpothersinneed,youwillgothroughascreening process.Thisistomakesureyourbloodishealthyandsafe.Ifyouqualifyasa plasmadonor,you'llspendaboutanhourandahalfatacliniconeveryfollow-up visit. Duringtheactualblooddonationprocess,yourbloodisdrawnthroughaneedleplaced inaveininonearm.Aspecialmachineseparatestheplasmaandoftentheplatelets fromyourbloodsample.Thisprocessiscalledplasmapheresis.Theremainingredblood cellsandotherbloodcomponentsarethenreturnedtoyourbody,alongwithalittle saline(salt) solution. TypeABplasmacanbegiventopeopleofallbloodtypes. BecausetypeABbloodis rareintheU.S.,thisplasmaisusuallyinshortsupply. Atnoncommercialdonationsites,peoplecandonateplasmaevery28days,upto13 timesayear.Tolearnmoreaboutdonatingblood,visitthe AmericanRedCross.  MedicalReviewers: LReneeWatsonMSNRN RaymondTurleyJrPA-C ToddGerstenMD AskaMedicalLibrarianMakeanAppointment Physicians&Services CoronavirusResearch CoronavirusFAQs