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Donating plasma

In addition to blood donation, plasma donation also takes place at the blood bank. This is called plasmapheresis. There is currently a great need for plasma and you can help by becoming a plasma donor.

Blood consists of plasma and cells. There are three sorts of blood cells: white blood cells, red blood cells and blood platelets. Plasma is the liquid that transports the blood cells through the body and consists chiefly of water and proteins. The plasma has a yellow colour. The red colour of the blood is caused by the red blood cells. In plasmapheresis, equipment is used to separate the blood into plasma and cells. Only the plasma is taken away, while the blood cells are returned to the donor.

What happens with the plasma?
Proteins can be obtained from the plasma. There are two important types of protein: coagulation factors and antibodies.

  • Coagulation factors ensure the coagulation of the blood. People who are “bleeders” (haemophiliacs) are missing one of the coagulation factors. This results in their blood not coagulating properly, which can have serious consequences during spontaneous haemorrhages, or operations and accidents. People with haemophilia can be helped by coagulation factor from plasma. If given coagulation factors, they can then lead an almost normal life. There are currently more plasma donors needed in the Netherlands in order to obtain adequate coagulation factor.

  • Antibodies: these are of importance in the resistance against disease. Antibodies are formed, among other conditions, after infection with a pathogen or after vaccination. There is a need for antibodies against, for example, a form of jaundice (hepatitis A and B), tetanus and the Rhesus-D factor.

Plasma can also be administered as a totality to patients. Hospital patients who require adequate plasma only receive plasma that has undergone an extra check for blood transmissible infectious diseases. This is called virally safe plasma. The plasma used is taken from donors who have been tested for the second time six months later. Plasmapheresis donors are also needed for this!

What does the process of plasmapheresis involve?
Plasmapheresis occurs in four stages:
  1. The vein in one arm is punctured and the blood is guided into a machine through a small tube (with the help of an added anticoagulation compound).
  2. Inside the machine, the blood is separated into cells and plasma.
  3. The plasma is collected in a bag.
  4. The blood cells are returned to the donor through the small tube.

More than half litre of plasma can be collected in this manner. The duration of plasmapheresis is longer than normal blood donation because the plasmapheresis consists of a number of repeated steps. A plasmapheresis, including the medical examination, last from forty-five to sixty minutes. The first time will take a bit longer because the donor must be informed of the methodology of the blood bank, among other things. You may eat or drink and may do some reading during the plasmapheresis.

Who can become a plasma donor?
In theory, any blood donor with good blood vessels can become a plasma donor. The blood banks usually prefer that donors with blood type O remain blood donors because of the great demand for this type of blood. Remember that you cannot be a blood donor and a plasma donor simultaneously.

Consequences for the donor
Plasmapheresis is less taxing for the body than ordinary blood donation because the blood cells are given back to the donor. The donor only loses plasma in the form of fluid and protein, which the body will have replenished again after a couple of days. With an ordinary blood donation, blood cells must also be produced again. This can take four to six weeks. Because the body recovers faster from a plasmapheresis than from a normal blood donation, it is medically sound to give plasma more frequently than blood.

Safety first
A new sterile set (consisting of a needle, a bag and a small tube) is used for every donor and during each donation. And because the donor’s blood remains within this set during the plasmapheresis, it is impossible for the blood of one donor to come into contact with pathogens from another.

What might go wrong?
Complications with a plasmapheresis are very rare and are usually not serious in nature. A compound is used during the plasmapheresis do prevent the blood from clotting in the machine. This is a harmless material that is rapidly broken down by the body. There have been a few occasions where the donor has noticed a slight tingling around the mouth or light cramps in the hands or legs. There may be a few times when the plasma collected with the equipment is red in colour. In such cases the donor will be disconnected from the equipment, even if it still contains red blood cells. The place where the donor is punctured is slightly more likely bruised with plasmapheresis than with a normal blood donation.

Where and when can you donate plasma?
In general, the blood banks call on plasma donors more often than on “regular” donors (although more frequently than once every 14 days is not allowed). All plasma donations take place on an appointment basis which means that there are no waiting times. The blood bank would therefore appreciate it if you would make a (preferably timely) call if you are unable to come. You can refer to the blood bank for information about the locations where plasma may be donated.

Questions?
You may contact the blood bank if you still have questions after reading this information.

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