Why Do People Donate Plasma?

Though 10 percent of Americans donate blood every year, a much smaller percentage give plasma. Plasma can be donated through a process called plasmapheresis, which is very similar to giving blood. The need for plasma to treat diseases is a motivator for people who give plasma, though there are several other factors that contribute to the decision to give plasma.

History

• The first documented case of a plasma-related therapy occurred in 1959 in Los Angeles, when doctors used donated blood to create a plasma protein therapy to treat a patient with an immune disorder. Modern plasmapheresis was developed by the National Cancer Institute in 1968. The process was based on technology that was used on farms to separate cream from other dairy products.

Process

• During a plasma donation, blood is drawn from the donor using a needle. The blood is filtered through a machine called a cell separator. The cell separator filters the plasma from the red blood cells. The red blood cells are then returned to the donor intravenously. The plasma is transported to a medical facility where the proteins in the plasma can be developed into treatments for a variety of conditions and diseases.

Types

• Plasma is not directly used to treat disease. The proteins that make up plasma are separated and developed into medical treatments called protein therapies. Albumin, immunoglobulins and coagulators are the most common types of protein therapies derived from donated plasma.

Significance

• Protein therapies derived from plasma donations are used to treat life-threatening diseases, infections and injuries. Albumin therapies are used to treat severe burns, because they aid in the production of healthy blood and regenerative tissue. People with hemophilia and blood clotting disorders can receive plasma transfusions, as plasma proteins can help blood coagulate. Leukemia and Kawasaki disease can also be treated using plasma because it provides support to weakened immune systems.

Benefits

• Plasma donors often cite personal reasons for donating. A donor may have had a loved one who received plasma therapies for a life-threatening illness. Plasma donors often feel compelled to donate because it provides them with a sense of giving back to their community. Unlike blood donation, plasma donation includes monetary compensation, because donating plasma can take between two and three hours. Compensations are set by individual donor centers, but typically donors are compensated between $25 and $50.

Considerations

• Not everyone is eligible to donate plasma. Donors must undergo a medical screening exam that tests for overall health as well as the presence of drugs in the bloodstream. Blood is pre-screened to assess the level of protein in the blood plasma. If protein levels are too low, a donor may be denied.