Transfusions are a life-saving therapy:

The use of blood components (red blood cells, platelets) and plasma in surgery can vary depending on the type of surgical intervention and its complexity, as in the case of organ transplants.

A transfusion involves intravenously infusing red blood cells, plasma, or platelets into a person (called the recipient) taken from an individual who has voluntarily donated blood (the donor). During the transfusion, a small needle is inserted into a vein of the person receiving the transfusion to allow the component contained in the bag to enter the bloodstream.

The duration of a blood transfusion depends on the type of blood component being administered. Initially, the nurse will start the transfusion slowly, monitoring you closely for the first 15 minutes to ensure there are no adverse reactions. If no complications arise, the infusion rate can be increased according to the doctor’s discretion and the patient’s condition.

Plasma, the liquid component of blood that constitutes about 55% of total blood volume, is fundamental for maintaining fluid balance and transporting nutrients, hormones, and proteins necessary for blood coagulation. 

Plasma is composed primarily of water (about 90%), but it also contains essential proteins (such as albumin, globulins, and clotting factors), electrolytes, nutrients, cellular waste, and other molecules. Its main functions are:

Blood and blood components are considered drugs because they are used in the treatment of diseases. In some surgical procedures, significant blood loss can be anticipated, and there is always the potential for unexpected blood loss during any type of surgery.

Why would someone need a plasma transfusion? Plasma transfusion services are a vital and integral part of modern health care because fresh frozen plasma (FFP) is used to replace missing or low levels of blood proteins in a range of medical and surgical situations.

Plasma transfusion primarily serves to correct deficiencies of coagulation factors for which there is no specific replacement therapy, or in cases of deficiency of multiple coagulation factors in patients with ongoing bleeding.

In particular, plasma transfusions are indicated in a variety of clinical conditions, including:

In summary, if you have low levels of blood proteins due to a medical condition like liver disease, heart surgery, or severe blood loss, a plasma transfusion may help. Plasma donations are essential for a wide range of medical treatments that save lives and improve the quality of life for many people suffering from serious and chronic illnesses. Plasma donations are truly life-saving acts!

The journey of plasma starts with your donation. The donation process itself is relatively simple and very similar to donating blood. After completing the necessary paperwork and undergoing a health screening to confirm your eligibility to donate, you will be seated in a reclined chair for the actual donation. During this process, your blood is drawn, and the plasma is separated from the other components using a specific machine. At the end of the procedure, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets will be returned to you via the machine. The volume of fluid lost during donation is replenished through natural recovery mechanisms, the infusion of saline solution, and fluid intake.

Immediately after your donation, the collected plasma undergoes a series of crucial steps to prepare it for further treatments. First and foremost, it is carefully examined and tested to ensure its safety and quality. Any plasma that doesn’t meet the high standards is discarded. Once approved, the plasma undergoes a process called “fractionation” that separates plasma into its individual components, such as antibodies, clotting factors, and albumin. Each of these components serves a specific purpose in medicine and is carefully extracted for further treatments. Once fractionated, the individual components of plasma are purified to remove any impurities or contaminants. This purification process is essential to ensure the safety and efficacy of the final products.

Have you ever wondered why donating plasma is so important? Here is why:

Imagine living with a condition so rare that finding treatment feels like searching for a needle in a haystack. That is the reality for individuals affected by rare diseases, where each diagnosis is as unique as the person it impacts: fewer than 1 in 2,000 people are affected by these illnesses. 

The rarity of these diseases complicates research and treatment, leaving many to contend with significant health complications. However, the power of plasma donation is changing this narrative, offering new hope and possibilities for treatment.

Each year, on the last day of February, we observe Rare Disease Day to raise awareness about rare diseases and their impact on patients’ lives. This day is important to foster understanding and promoting the importance of plasma donations in treating these conditions.

Plasma, the liquid component of blood, carries essential proteins and other substances that are necessary for your overall health. It is utilized to create plasma-derived therapies, which are specially designed to treat rare conditions by replenishing missing or deficient proteins in a patient’s blood.

These therapies are often the only option available and are crucial for restoring balance to the proteins in the blood, which is vital for maintaining good health. 

The list of plasma-derived therapies is extensive and continually evolving, highlighting the immense strategic value of plasma in medical treatment.

Plasma donations play a vital role in treating a variety of rare diseases, particularly those affecting the immune system. Consider the life-changing impact of plasma-derived treatments for conditions like:

The need for plasma donations has never been more critical. For instance, it takes 130 donations to treat one person with Primary Immunodeficiency Disease for a year. Conditions like Hemophilia require an average of 1,200 donations to treat a patient for a year. Your commitment to donating plasma can ensure a steady supply of life-saving therapies for those in dire need.

Recent advances in plasma therapy have improved treatment outcomes for rare disease patients. For instance, a new therapy, called subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg) therapy, allows patients to administer immunoglobulin at home through a small needle under the skin. This therapy improves patients’ quality of life, as they no longer need to visit hospitals or clinics for regular intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusions.

Joining the ranks of plasma donors means stepping into a community of lifesavers. If you are considering donating, here is how you can start:

Plasma donation is a straightforward way to contribute to a greater cause. For more information or to address any concerns you might have, visit your nearest donation center. Your commitment can turn the tide for those who face the challenge of battling a rare disease daily.

Plasma is the liquid part of your blood. It contains water and a small yet crucial portion of solid substances, such as proteins and antibodies. You can donate plasma along with whole blood or on its own. Plasma donations are vital for shock and trauma treatments, and are also used to make life-saving medicines. Let’s discover the many uses of plasma in medicine.

Plasma is a part of your blood, specifically the liquid one. In fact, 91-92% of it is water. The remaining percentage of plasma contains vital substances. In particular, these include:

Plasma provides nutrients, enzymes, and hormones to the body and helps remove waste.

Although it is an often-forgotten part of blood, it is the largest one, and its role, when donated, is often life-saving.

The use of plasma in medicine reached a turning point during World War II when its benefits became clear. It is easier to transport than blood and particularly suitable for shock treatment, such as burns and wounds.

Today, plasma is not only used for emergency treatments but also for chronic, rare, and autoimmune diseases and research.

Your plasma donation can be used for many purposes. Here are some of its most frequent uses:

Plasma transfusions help with excessive bleeding, and both its proteins and its antibodies can help treat the serious and chronic conditions just mentioned. Typically in these cases, the patient undergoes a treatment called plasmapheresis: the removal, return, or exchange of plasma. This is done with the help of a special machine.

However, the use of plasma for research purposes is equally important, since plasma-derived medicinal products are developed thanks to it.

In conclusion, the plasma you donate is essential for emergencies, but also to help provide the key ingredient for therapies that improve the quality of life of patients suffering from various rare, chronic, autoimmune and genetic diseases.

Blood is essential to our bodies: it carries nutrients such as fats, proteins, and sugars, removes waste products, helps heal wounds, and distributes heat. Blood has many components, most notably a liquid part called plasma and a solid part that contains red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The latter are the best known, but plasma itself plays a fundamental role too. What is it made up of, and what does it do for your body?

Whole blood flows through our veins, and it makes up about 7-8% of our body’s weight. Typically, the male body contains up to 12 pints of blood, while the female body contains up to 9 pints.

Whole blood contains:

Therefore “blood” refers to the solid part, and “plasma” refers to the liquid part. The difference between blood and plasma is important when donating: you can donate whole blood or just a part of it, plasma.

Both whole blood and plasma are in high demand, especially in emergency medicine: they are often needed to treat trauma, injuries, and burns.

In addition to helping in cases of emergencies, plasma is also used in the treatment and research of rare, chronic, and autoimmune diseases.

Plasma is first formed in the embryo thanks to the umbilical cord. As the body develops, plasma proteins form in the soft tissue of the bones, called bone marrow. Plasma cells regenerate quickly, so donating plasma is completely safe. 

The main component of plasma is water, and it comes from the water absorbed through the digestive system.

When separated from the rest of your blood, it appears like a yellowish liquid that has the color of straw.

As we have seen, plasma is the liquid part of the blood, so its main component is water. It makes up for 91-92% of plasma, which is why drinking plenty of water after a plasma donation is highly recommended.

The remaining 7-8% contains several substances essential for your health and for the well-being of your body. It consists of:

Both whole blood and plasma play a fundamental role in the functioning of our bodies. Specifically, plasma is responsible for:

Plasma performs incredible functions for the body. By donating this precious ‘life-source’ you are helping people who have suffered some kind of trauma or whose own plasma cells don’t function as they should. Your donation helps re-regulate these fundamental processes, greatly improving the quality of life of patients worldwide.