When its isolated, plasma looks like a straw-colored, cloudy liquid.
Find out what blood plasma is and how its involved in a blood transfusion or other procedures.
Whole blood appears red because of its red blood cells.
Photo composite by Michela Buttignol for Verywell Health; Getty Images
Without the blood cells, the remaining plasma is straw-colored and slightly cloudy.
The kidneys send excess water and minerals to the urine for release from the body.
Plasma vs. Serum
When blood clots, the liquid portion is now called serum.
This can happen due to a severe burn or traumatic injury.
In these situations, a plasma transfusion procedure would provide plasma from a donor to a recipient.
Donor Benefits
Some evidence suggests that donating plasma may benefit people withhigh cholesterolor high blood pressure.
A study examining these potential effects is currently underway.
Your blood travels through a machine that separates plasma from the cellular components of your blood.
The cellular components are returned to your vein.
It takes a little longer to donate plasma than it takes to donate whole blood.
Whole blood donation may take an hour.
With a whole blood donation, no cells are returned to you.
The donated whole blood unit may be processed into components, such as packed red cells and plasma.
These can then benefit more than one recipient.
You candonate plasma more frequently than whole bloodbecause the body regenerates plasma much faster than it regenerates blood cells.
Plasma donors may be paid for their donations at for-profit plasma centers.
How Machines Separate Plasma
Special equipment separates plasma from blood cells or selected proteins from plasma.
Your blood cells and saline are returned to your bloodstream.
If youre having therapeutic plasmapheresis, you would have a tube placed in a vein.
After plasma donation, its important to drink fluids, especially water.
It’s good to have a small meal soon after the donation.
Your kidneys adjust the composition of plasma to keep your bodys function in balance.
Plasmapheresis is a procedure that can treat certain immune diseases.
You may feel tired after donating blood or plasma or after having a therapeutic plasmapheresis treatment.
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