- After blood is collected, plasma is obtained by spinning the blood in a centrifuge. This process causes the blood cells to separate to the bottom of the sample and allows the watery plasma to rise to the top. The plasma layer is clear and has a yellow or slightly pink color, which is easy to distinguish from the dark red blood cells at the bottom the processed sample.
- Plasma has many vital functions in the body, including dissolving materials, assisting in immune defense and transportation of a variety of substances. The task of transport is perhaps the plasma's most important role. Plasma is continuously transporting salts, sugars such as glucose, amino acids, cholesterol, hormones and waste to and from most of the cells in the body.
- Plasma consists of up to 90 percent water. Proteins, salts, lipids and glucose make up the remaining 10 percent. The lipids and proteins found in plasma serve some important roles in the body. The plasma proteins are essential to immune function, blood clotting, blood pressure maintenance and specialized transportation of hormones, medications and other materials. Additionally, the plasma contains triglycerides and cholesterol, which are vital for cell health.
- Without this vital transportation system that plasma provides, the body tissues would be unable to obtain nutrients needed for growth, repair and survival. The plasma proteins are also vital to the health of the body. The protein albumin, which resides in plasma, prevents large quantities of water from escaping the blood and rushing into the fluid between cells. Also, the antibody proteins found in plasma bind to foreign substances in the blood, allowing for their destruction by the immune system.
- Plasma is so important to the manufacture of medications that donors are often compensated for their plasma. Plasma can be collected directly from an individual with specialized equipment or can be removed from a whole blood donation. The plasma collected from donations is most often used to make medications to treat the blood disorder hemophilia. Donated plasma is also used to aid in recovery of trauma such as severe burns.
