CaridianBCT Solutions for Plasma
Plasma
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Key player in good cell function throughout the body
Plasma is the liquid portion of blood, that transports the red blood cells, platelets, and white cells throughout the body. It makes up approximately 55% of your blood volume.
Though plasma is 90% water, it contains a variety of proteins:
Albumin: the main protein component of plasma, necessary for maintaining fluid balance in the body
Fibrinogen: one of the critical blood clotting factors
Globulins: simple proteins essential to immune system function
Coagulation factors: responsible for blood clotting function
Plasma also contains minerals, such as sodium and potassium, which are critical to proper cell function.
In blood centers, a portion of the plasma is flash frozen to stabilize the clotting factors and is used for transfusion. Plasma is also sent for further manufacture into commercially prepared blood derivatives such as albumin, clotting factor concentrates, and intravenous immune globulin (IVIG).
Who needs plasma products?
Fresh Frozen Plasma, which is frozen shortly after collection, retains normal levels of clotting factors. It can be used for transfusion or prepared into Cryopreciptate which is rich in clotting factors VIII, XIII, and fibrinogen.
Factor VIII and von Willebrand factor are used to control bleeding in patients with the two most common of coagulation abnormalities, hemophilia and von Willebrand's disease.
In certain diseases a person develops autoantibodies, which circulate through the blood and attack the patient's healthy cells or tissues. In other diseases there is an overproduction of protein in plasma, which can slow down the flow of blood. Patients with either of these conditions may undergo Therapeutic Plasma Exchange, or TPE, to remove their plasma with the autoantibodies or elevated proteins and replace it with normal plasma.
TPE is performed using a blood cell separator, such as the COBE Spectra Apheresis System. During the procedure, blood is drawn from a patient and circulated into the cell separator, which separates and removes the diseased plasma before circulating the rest of the blood back to the patient. To replace the fluid lost, patients either receive donated fresh frozen plasma or physiologically acceptable replacement fluids.
How long can you store donated plasma?
Donated plasma that is frozen within hours of donation is called fresh frozen plasma and can be stored frozen for one or seven years, depending on the temperature of storage.
Interested in learning more about the conditions and diseases for which TPE is considered a standard and acceptable therapy? Visit the Therapeutic Apheresis and Cell Therapy section to learn more about TPE, cell therapy, and other therapeutic apheresis procedures.
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