About Blood Plasma

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By R.J. Bowman
eHow Contributing Writer

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Plasma donation centers are common sights. College students are known to donate plasma to get spending money for the weekend. Few people who give their plasma stop to think about what exactly plasma is, how it is used and why businesses are willing to pay for this precious resource. Plasma cannot be manufactured and in order to make use of its healing properties, It must be collected from humans.

Role of Plasma in the Body

Plasma is the liquid that carries blood cells, platelets, antibodies and other nutrients through the body. It keeps the blood cells flowing and moving to the parts of the body where they are needed. Without plasma, the blood cells, antibodies, and important nutrients would be unable to do their jobs.

Contents and Appearance

Plasma is a clear liquid. It is the color of straw. The makeup of plasma is about 90 percent water and takes up about half of the entire volume of blood in the human body. Other than water, plasma contains calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium, as well as important antibodies.

Uses of Plasma

Plasma is used in the treatment of many health conditions. Burn victims are often treated with an infusion of blood plasma, which helps protect the patient from infection. Plasma is also given to those suffering from immune disorders, autoimmune diseases and hemophilia.

Separating Blood Cells From Plasma

Plasma must be separated from the blood cells that it carries before it can be used to treat a person. A person who donates blood has their blood collected just as they would if they were donating blood. Then the blood is put into a machine that spins it so the blood cells separate from the plasma. The plasma is collected and the blood cells are returned to the donor's body.

Donating Plasma

Plasma donation locations often pay donors for their plasma. People are allowed to donate up to two times per week because it takes the body two to three days to replace the lost plasma. The process takes about an hour. Donors are usually paid between $20 and $30 each visit. A person who wishes to donate plasma should always go to a registered and licensed plasma collection site (see Resources).