Plasma Donation Terms Explained

Defining Our Processes and the Impact Our Donors Make 

The decision to become a plasma donor is one of the more important decisions you can make. When you donate plasma, you’re contributing to the health and wellness of the many patients who rely on life-giving plasma therapies. The team at BioLife is grateful for your choice to play your part in our growing family of plasma donors. We know that donating may feel overwhelming and that there are many unfamiliar terms about the donation process, compensation, and even plasma itself.

We’re breaking down the terms most commonly associated with plasma donation and defining them to help you feel more confident in your choice to donate. The more you know, the more you can take full advantage of what it means to be a part of the BioLife family of donors, setting you up for lasting success.

What is plasma? 

Plasma is one of the four components that make up our blood, along with white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.¹ Each of these parts plays a specific role in our bodies. Plasma, which makes up 55% of our blood, transports white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. It also helps to fight off infections and diseases. Because plasma cannot be made in a lab, it can only come from healthy donors, which is why your generous gift of plasma is so important.

What is plasma made of? 

Plasma mostly consists of water, proteins, and other important substances. Water accounts for about 92% of your plasma. Proteins, including antibodies, make up another 7% of it. The other 1% consists of hormones, vitamins, salt, enzymes, and other compounds.¹ 

What are plasma-derived therapies (PDTs)? 

Plasma-derived therapies (PDTs) are medical treatments made from donated plasma. Plasma contains important proteins that can be used to create medicines. That’s why your donations are so critical to helping countless patients each year who have rare, chronic, and complex diseases and may not respond to other treatments.

If you want to learn more about plasma, PDTs, and the ongoing impact of plasma donation, you can read our blog on plasma-derived therapies.

What is plasmapheresis? 

Plasmapheresis is the procedure that separates the plasma (the liquid part of the blood) from the other blood components. During a plasma donation appointment, we collect the separated plasma and return the rest of the blood to your body.² 

We also have additional resources for you to learn more about the donation process. Here are a few:

• Plasma Donation Process – What to Expect
• Who Can Donate Plasma?
• Is Donating Plasma Safe?

What is hematocrit, and why does BioLife check it? 

Hematocrit is the percentage of blood volume made up of red blood cells. BioLife tests your hematocrit prior to donating to ensure your level falls within the acceptable range for donating.³ If your hematocrit is too low, you could experience fatigue, dizziness, or other side effects. To protect our donors and make sure you can safely take part in the procedure, we test your hematocrit before every donation.

What are protein levels, and why do they matter before you donate? 

Plasma is full of proteins like albumin, globulins, and fibrinogen, which help with clotting, immunity, and overall body function.¹ By checking protein levels, BioLife is ensuring that our donors are healthy enough to donate safely and that your plasma contains all the components needed to help those receiving plasma therapies.

What is blood pressure, and why is it checked before you donate? 

As your heart pumps blood through your body, blood pressure measures the force of blood against the walls of your arteries.⁴ If it’s too low, you could become dizzy or faint during or after your plasma donation. This means that maintaining a safe range for your blood pressure is important for your safety and eligibility to donate.

What does donor eligibility mean? 

Donor eligibility refers to whether or not you’ve met all the requirements to donate. For BioLife, our eligibility requirements are based on government regulations as well as medical standards established to ensure your safety. To begin, all donors must be at least 18 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in good health.⁵

BioLife also conducts medical screenings to understand your health history. You can learn more about those screening steps and the full process for determining donor eligibility here.

What is a temporary deferral? 

A temporary deferral means that due to certain information provided during your screening or evaluation, you are unable to donate at your scheduled donation time. If this happens, don’t worry! Typically, you’ll be able to reschedule your donation within a specified amount of time.⁶

What is meant by a permanent deferral? 

A permanent deferral means that you are not eligible to donate with BioLife. This is rare but can happen and is typically due to a potential donor testing positive for a serious illness (such as HIV or hepatitis) or having a serious medical condition.⁶

You can learn more about the factors that could impact your ability to donate and result in a temporary deferral here.

What does donor compensation mean? 

Donor compensation is provided as recognition of the time and commitment involved in the plasma donation process. It’s our way of saying thank you to members of our donor family who complete a successful donation. Compensation amounts may change over time and may vary based on factors like donation history, location, and market conditions. You can learn more about donor compensation here.

What is the BioLife Debit Card? 

The BioLife Debit Card is how we pay donors for their time. Each donor receives a BioLife Debit Card and compensation is loaded onto the card after each successful donation. It can be used anywhere Debit Mastercard is accepted. You can even use it to withdraw cash from ATMs. Read more about the card here.

What is the Buddy Bonus Program?

The Buddy Bonus Program is designed to reward you for your donor referrals. When you refer a friend or family member to BioLife, you could help even more people who depend on plasma therapies. Once your buddy completes a successful donation, you’ll get extra money deposited onto your BioLife Debit Card.

What is My BioLife Rewards? 

The My BioLife Rewards program is our loyalty program that recognizes frequent donors and gives you ways to earn points, which can be redeemed for rewards like gift cards and additional compensation. When you complete qualifying activities, you’ll automatically receive points if you’re enrolled. You can learn more about the program here.

The process of transforming donated plasma into treatments includes many steps and can take up to 12 months.

Steps include collecting your plasma, testing it for safety, isolating the necessary proteins, removing impurities, producing the medications, and packaging and distributing.⁷ 

To help shed light on this technical process, we’re defining some of the most common plasma donation terms related to turning plasma into therapies:

What does collection mean? 

Collection refers to the process of collecting plasma during your donation appointment. Shortly after collection, your donated plasma is frozen and stored.

What is receipt and testing? 

Receipt and testing is when your plasma is sent to a manufacturing facility for safety and quality tests.

What is fractionation? 

Fractionation is the thawing and separating of your plasma into its individual proteins.⁸

What does purification mean? 

Purification is the process of purifying the isolated proteins ahead of using them in medication.

What is production? 

Production refers to when scientists turn your raw, purified proteins into lifesaving medications.

What does filling mean? 

Filling is when purified proteins are put into vials or bags.

What is packaging and distribution? 

Packaging and distribution is the point when the medications are labeled, packaged, and shipped to healthcare facilities where patients receive treatment.

The plasma you donate today can help make medicines that reach patients months later, showing the lasting impact of each donation.

We hope these definitions make the donation process easier to understand and show why your choice to donate matters. The plasma therapies you contribute to are saving lives every day. To become a donor, sign up here.