What is plasma?
Plasma is the liquid portion of the blood that transports water and nutrients to all the cells in the body.
It is composed of approximately 90% salt water and 10% protein and electrolytes.
Plasma contains many specialized proteins (antibodies) that aid in fighting infections and can be used to make life saving medical products.
What is Plasmapheresis?
Plasmapheresis is the special process that allows you to donate your plasma while having your red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets returned to you.
How is my plasma used?
The plasma that is collected at a Prometic Plasma Resources center is used to manufacture a wide variety of potentially life-saving products that could benefit thousands of people everyday.
Your plasma may be used to make immune globulins that prevent or treat diseases like hemolytic disease of the newborn, iv immune globulin, chickenpox or coagulation proteins like plasminogen. Multiple products can be manufactured from every donation for diseases such as bleeding disorders, burns or other ailments. Plasma can also be made into reagents for diagnostic test kits used to test for and diagnose disease.
It is important to remember that plasma is not a substance that can be produced in a laboratory or some other artificial environment. It can only be obtained from healthy adults. When you donate plasma, you are helping to save lives.
Plasma Donation Programs
For all our plasma programs, the quickest way to get started is to contact your nearest Prometic Plasma Resources center and schedule your initial appointment.
There are hundreds of proteins and antibodies found in human plasma and occasionally someone may have a special or unique antibody. These special antibodies can be naturally occurring or develop following certain vaccinations.
The staff at Prometic Plasma Resources will discuss with you at your initial visit the plasma donation programs for which you may be eligible. Compensation for plasma donation varies depending on the plasma program.
See below for more information on the different types of Plasma Programs and what the Plasma is used for:
- Normal Source Plasma Program
Plasma collected from Normal Source donors is used to create immune globulin and plasminogen medications that can treat a variety of illnesses and autoimmune disorders. We are always looking for Normal Source Plasma donors as there is an increasing need for this plasma.
To participate in this program, you must be eligible for plasma donation. Click here to view information about plasma donation eligibility.
- Rh Immune Globulin (Anti-D)
Plasma collected from Anti-D donors is used to create an Rho (D)Immune Globulin product. This is a medicine that is given to pregnant women in certain cases to prevent Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn (HDN), a serious condition which often results in the death of the unborn baby. Our plasma donors participating in this program produce a specific antibody in their plasma that prevents HDN and is crucial to creating an Rho (D) Immune Globulin. This plasma program is important because these donors are saving babies lives with each plasma donation.
To participate in this program, you must be eligible for plasma donation, have an Rh-negative blood type and, if female, be permanently unable to have children.
- Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (HepB)
Plasma collected from Anti-HepB donors is used to produce an immune globulin medication that protects people who are accidently exposed to Hepatitis B. Our plasma donors participating in this program produce a high level (or titer) of Hepatitis-B-fighting antibodies. To participate in this program, you must be eligible for plasma donation and have previously received a Hepatitis B vaccination or be willing to be vaccinated for Hepatitis B.
- Whole Blood Donation Program
Whole Blood donors at Prometic Plasma Resources have very special blood types. The red blood cells collected from these donors are used in our Rh Immune Globulin (Anti-D) program.
To participate in this program, you need to be eligible for blood donation, need to have an Rh-positive blood type and preferably also have an O or A blood type. Whole Blood donors of African descent or ancestry are particularly needed for this program.
- Influenza Immune Globulin (Flu-IG)
This program involves taking pre-screened existing Source Plasma donors that have had their annual flu vaccination, and collecting plasma that contains high levels of Flu immune globulin. Contact your nearest center for eligibility for this program.
- Other Programs
Diagnostic Red Blood Cell Antibodies
Donors participating in this program have unique or rare Red Blood Cell Antibodies, either occurring naturally or developed through pregnancy or a blood transfusion. Antibodies collected from these donors are used to make blood bank typing seras needed to keep blood transfusions safe and possible. Eligibility for this program will vary, so those who have been told they have a rare or unique Red Blood Cell antibody should contact a nearby Prometic Plasma Resources center.
Disease-state Antibodies
Donors who may have recently been diagnosed with a viral illness such as Hepatitis A or B, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Mononucleosis, Chickenpox and many other illnesses, or who have chronic and/or recurring conditions such as Shingles or Rheumatoid Arthritis may be eligible to participate. Antibodies from our Disease-state donors are used to make test kits that help diagnose others with the same condition. Eligibility for this program will vary, so those who have been recently diagnosed or who have a chronic condition should contact a nearby Prometic Plasma Resources center.
Varicella Zoster Immune Globulin (Anti-VZV)
Plasma collected from donors who have been recently vaccinated against chickenpox can be used to produce an immune globulin medication that can help treat pregnant women exposed to or infected with chickenpox. To participate in this program, you must be eligible for plasma donation and have been recently vaccinated against chickenpox or have recovered from a Shingles infection.