Donating Plasma
Patients all over the world rely on plasma protein therapies to treat rare, chronic diseases. These individuals rely on the generosity and commitment of plasma donors (and oftentimes the blood donor recruitment specialist). You may donate plasma in one of the many licensed and certified donor centers located in the U.S. Plasma often is referred to as the “gift of life”, because it is essential to helping thousands of people worldwide with rare, chronic diseases to live healthier, more productive, and more fulfilling lives.
What Is Plasma?
Plasma is the liquid portion of blood and is composed of about 90% water, 7% vital proteins, and 1% mineral salts, sugars, fats hormones, and vitamins. Plasma is collected through a whole blood donation, in which plasma helps with clotting blood, fighting diseases, and other critical functions. This helps patients who are in critical need of a specific component of a blood donation, such as plasma. The process of donating plasma is almost identical to the whole blood donation. It is an automated system that collects the plasma from one arm, and one needle is used.
The Need For Plasma
Plasma donations are critically important to saving lives. Plasma donations are mainly used to treat people with rare chronic diseases and disorders, such as genetic lung diseases, treatments of traumas, as well as burn victims. Donating plasma does take time and commitment. However, when taking the time to make a plasma donation, donors do make a huge impact in the community by saving the lives of those who have been struggling to fight the medical condition they are currently dealing with. Not only do they help the patient but they also help the patient’s family regain hope for their loved one.
Regardless of the type of donation someone is willing to give, every type of donation is absolutely important to potentially save multiple lives. Not only that, but blood donations also make a difference in the community. So go ahead and take some time to save lives!
Will you consider being a blood donor?