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April 1, 2023
What is plasma?
Plasma is a component of blood that is comprised of water, salts and proteins. Plasma, the straw-coloured portion of blood, contains a variety of proteins, including:
- Immunoglobulins
- Alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor
- Clotting factors
- C1 esterase inhibitor
Each of these proteins can be uniquely used to create therapies that help to treat patients who require plasma protein therapies.
How is plasma used to help others?
The proteins found in plasma make it an essential treatment for patients with chronic and genetic conditions. Plasma can be used to treat over 80 autoimmune disorders and immune deficiencies. These conditions, while rare, are lifelong, meaning that patients require regular treatments in order to reap the benefits of plasma therapies.
Why donate plasma?
You may wonder why you should donate plasma over blood. While the plasma donation process takes longer than blood donation, it’s worth it – plasma’s unique life sustaining properties can be harnessed to treat rare and specific illnesses, supporting the health and wellbeing of patients who will have to manage these conditions for life.
You may know someone – a family member, a friend, a colleague – who requires plasma donation for a chronic condition without realizing it. Even if it’s someone who you don’t know, having a healthy supply of plasma to give is a gift to a stranger in need who relies on donors for the plasma treatments that they require. Here are 5 reasons you should consider donating plasma.
1. To help treat patients with autoimmune conditions and immune deficiencies
Plasma can be manufactured into four main types of treatment therapies:
1. Alpha-1 Proteinase Inhibitor Therapies
2. Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg) Therapies
3. C1 Esterase Inhibitor Therapies
4. Coagulation Factor Therapies
To learn about these treatment therapies, and how they’re used to treat patients, check out our blog.
Plasma’s immune boosting properties can be harnessed through the plasma donation process (plasmapheresis) and manufactured into therapies that are delivered via injection and infusion to patients with autoimmune conditions.
Some of the disorders that plasma can be used to treat include:
Blood plasma can help to boost the immune system, supporting immune function, blood pressure, clotting and volume. Patients with immune deficiencies, like bleeding disorders, can be treated with plasma due to its coagulation properties – ensuring that a patient doesn’t bleed excessively and dangerously.
2. To help treat cancer patients and trauma victims
Plasma can be used to filter out antibodies in patients with particular types of blood cancer, like lymphoma. Due to plasma’s core qualities (its antibodies, clotting factors and various proteins) it can be used to treat shock, trauma and burn victims.
3. To support patients through the plasma supply shortage
We are currently experiencing a shortage of plasma, exasperated by the COVID-19 pandemic. While plasma supplies have decreased, patients in need still require regular plasma therapy treatments – it takes more than 130 plasma donations a year to treat one person with primary immunodeficiency.
4. Because giving back is good for you
Giving back to others has proven health benefits for you! Giving back – whether it’s donating your time, energy or resources to others – has been proven to:
- Lower your blood pressure
- Decrease your stress levels
- Improve your cognitive function
5. To earn some extra income
As a first time donor, you can earn up to $595 in your first month as a plasma donor! When you become a regular donor, and reach our gold donation tier, you can earn up to $445 a month as a plasma donor! That’s a car payment, a student loan payment, a chunk of rent, groceries or more. We value our donors time and generosity and compensate our donors in appreciation!
Book your plasma donation appointment today and start feeling the benefits of plasma donation, for yourself and others.
