Blood plasma

Blood plasma is a light <a href="/facts/Amber_(color)/gGn5PFcK">amber</a>-colored liquid component of <a href="/facts/Blood/03zEulkj">blood</a> in which <a href="/facts/Blood_cell/lf9GA0Dj">blood cells</a> are absent, but which contains <a href="/facts/Blood_protein/C87ptzI0">proteins</a> and other constituents of <a href="/facts/Whole_blood/vcoBYMSr">whole blood</a> in <a href="/facts/Suspension_(chemistry)/S3xp96TL">suspension</a>. It makes up about 55% of the body's total blood volume. It is the <a href="/facts/Intravascular_compartment/CYV4l60r">intravascular part</a> of <a href="/facts/Extracellular_fluid/hzm4qatP">extracellular fluid</a> (all body fluid outside cells). It is mostly water (up to 95% by volume), and contains important dissolved proteins (6–8%; e.g., <a href="/facts/Serum_albumin/KW1YhuF3">serum albumins</a>, <a href="/facts/Globulin/cMDP5CGc">globulins</a>, and <a href="/facts/Fibrinogen/5dSBwGVo">fibrinogen</a>), <a href="/facts/Glucose/oUSkoLCD">glucose</a>, <a href="/facts/Clotting_factors/vnfEevM0">clotting factors</a>, <a href="/facts/Electrolyte/4YE8bIVa">electrolytes</a> (Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3−, Cl−, etc.), <a href="/facts/Hormone/WFnBnINJ">hormones</a>, <a href="/facts/Carbon_dioxide/xGzpppEp">carbon dioxide</a> (plasma being the main medium for excretory product transportation), and <a href="/facts/Oxygen/acyn6o8r">oxygen</a>. It plays a vital role in an intravascular <a href="/facts/Osmotic/vYPfyX76">osmotic</a> effect that keeps electrolyte concentration balanced and protects the body from <a href="/facts/Infection/182XrncP">infection</a> and other blood-related disorders.
Blood plasma can be separated from whole blood through <a href="/facts/Blood_fractionation/yPNR1A5w">blood fractionation</a>, by adding an <a href="/facts/Anticoagulant/cARpjm0G">anticoagulant</a> to a tube filled with blood, which is spun in a <a href="/facts/Centrifuge/EVGu5ndv">centrifuge</a> until the blood cells fall to the bottom of the tube. The blood plasma is then poured or drawn off. For <a href="/facts/Point-of-care_testing/llrrlXHb">point-of-care testing</a> applications, plasma can be extracted from whole blood via filtration or via <a href="/facts/Agglutination_(biology)/MlUfom8Y">agglutination</a> to allow for rapid testing of specific biomarkers. Blood plasma has a density of approximately 1,025 kg/m3 (1.025 g/ml). <a href="/facts/Serum_(blood)/a22tvug9">Blood serum</a> is blood plasma without clotting factors. <a href="/facts/Plasmapheresis/pt2AfdrU">Plasmapheresis</a> is a medical therapy that involves blood plasma extraction, treatment, and reintegration.
<a href="/facts/Fresh_frozen_plasma/QRs8fF4y">Fresh frozen plasma</a> is on the <a href="/facts/WHO_Model_List_of_Essential_Medicines/6kmu81Xm">WHO Model List of Essential Medicines</a>, the most important medications needed in a basic <a href="/facts/Health_system/LpM7ISXR">health system</a>. It is of critical importance in the treatment of many types of trauma which result in blood loss, and is therefore kept stocked universally in all medical facilities capable of treating trauma (e.g., <a href="/facts/Trauma_center/Mzz3FMCt">trauma centers</a>, hospitals, and ambulances) or that pose a risk of patient blood loss such as surgical suite facilities.

Blood plasma open-in-new

Blood plasma