Blood plasma
liquid component of blood / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Blood plasma is the yellow liquid part of blood. In normal blood, the blood cells are suspended in the plasma.
Plasma makes up about 55% of the total blood volume. It is mostly water (90% by volume) and contains dissolved proteins, glucose, clotting factors, mineral ions, hormones and carbon dioxide. Plasma is the transport medium for excretion.
In hospitals, blood plasma is prepared like this. An anti-coagulant stops the blood clotting. Then tubes of blood are spun very fast in a centrifuge. The blood cells go to the bottom of the tubes. The plasma is poured into another container.[1]
Hospitals may give patients:
- Saline solution (pure water plus salt) for blood volume. This can be done quickly in an emergency.
- Blood plasma.
- Packed red cells.
- Whole blood.
Blood serum is blood plasma without fibrinogen or the other clotting factors (that is, whole blood minus both the cells and the clotting factors).[1]
Plasmapheresis is a medical therapy which involves taking out blood plasma, treating it, and putting it back in the patient.