Plasma, the fluid portion of the blood, contains important proteins and ions.
Plasma is the liquid portion of your blood. It contains approximately 500 different proteins that are vital to treating burn victims, surgical patients, cancer patients, individuals with lung and liver damage, patients with severe wounds, and individuals with compromised immune systems. These proteins include albumin, alpha-1 antitrypsin, clotting factors and immunoglobulins. Individuals with type AB blood make great plasma donors because their plasma can be given to patients with any blood type.
Instructions
Before You Go
1. Review the guidelines for donation to make sure that you are eligible. These guidelines ensure your own personal safety as well as the safety of the blood supply. The regulations regarding blood and plasma donation are quite extensive. See the the first resource below for a list of regulations.
2. Make an appointment at a plasma donation center. There are 10 donation centers in the San Diego area: the eight centers operated by the San Diego Blood Bank, the Biomat USA San Diego Donor Center and the Octapharma Plasma Donation Center in San Diego. See Resources for contact information.
3. Collect the necessary documents. You will have to show photo identification, such as a driver's license, and you will need to provide a list of over-the-counter and prescription medications you currently take. Additionally, you must provide a list of places outside the U.S. you have visited during the previous three years as well as a list of places outside of the U.S. where you have lived since 1980.
4. Eat and drink before you go. Eat a substantial meal within the four hours before your appointment. Because plasma consists primarily of water, you must be adequately hydrated before donating.
When You Arrive
5. Register at the donation center. The registration process consists of giving your personal information: name, date of birth and current address. At this point, you must show a valid, government-issued piece of identification.
6. Submit to a medical screening. During the medical screening, you must answer questions about your medical history, and your blood pressure, pulse and temperature will be checked. You will be asked about places outside of the U.S. you have visited in the past three years as well as places outside of the U.S. where you have lived since 1980. All of this information remains confidential. For a first-time donor, this screening will last one to two hours.
7. Donate your plasma. A medical professional will place a needle in your arm and a medical device will filter the plasma out of your blood. Your red blood cells will be returned to your body along with a saline solution to replace some of the lost fluids.
After Donation
8. Eat and rehydrate. Immediately following the donation, the donation center will give you a light snack and some fluids.
9. Avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for the next 24 hours.
10. Rehydrate for 24 hours. Drinking adequate amounts of fluids will allow your body to produce more plasma. Your body will replenish the lost plasma in approximately 48 hours.
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