What is Plasma Used for?

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Why plasma therapies are important

You might have heard about plasma therapy, but what’s it all about? Plasma therapies are medicines made from plasma, the liquid part of blood. These therapies contain special proteins that can help fight sickness and stop bleeding. 

 

People use plasma therapies to treat different serious diseases. They have done a great job in helping sick people get better and also help people with burn injuries.

Patients who need plasma therapies rely on healthy donors to give the gift of plasma because scientists can’t make plasma in a lab.

Plasma therapies are used to treat various severe diseases. They are truly lifesaving and can greatly improve the lives of those with rare and complex chronic conditions. Plasma therapies help many people around the world live healthier, higher quality lives.

Takeda, our parent company, makes different therapies from plasma. After you donate, your plasma might be used to:

  • Help people with weak immune systems
  • Help people with hemophilia (a disease that makes it hard to stop bleeding)
  • Replace lost blood
  • Treat Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency (a lung problem)
  • Treat hereditary angioedema (a swelling problem)
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Does my donation really make a difference?

Yes! Plasma therapies are important in the treatment of rare and complex chronic diseases, and multiple donations are needed to create a single plasma therapy.

 

Because of this, plasma is in high demand and every donation is valued. Your generosity can have a huge impact on someone’s life. Without donors like you, there could be no life-changing plasma therapy treatments.

 

Hundreds of plasma donations are needed each year to successfully develop treatment for just one patient.

 

Your donations are a tremendous gift that will greatly impact the life of patients in need.

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Who are you helping?

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Immune Disorder

A person with an immune disorder needs about 130 donations per year to treat their condition.

Blood Volume Replacement

Someone who needs a blood volume replacement needs more than 100 donations per year to treat their condition.

Hemophilia

A person with hemophilia needs about 1,200 donations per year to treat their condition.

Hereditary Angioedema

Someone with hereditary angioedema needs more than 100 plasma donations per year to treat their condition.

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

A person with an Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency needs about 900 donations per year to treat their condition.

Patient Stories

Your donation means more than you know. Take it from the patients who benefit most:

As a person living with a rare disease, I wanted to say thank you—During these unprecedented times, your dedication and your hard work has never been more appreciated.

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Julie

Recipient of plasma-derived therapies

I’d like plasma donors to know that I appreciate each and every one of them, beyond what words can describe.

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Celina

Recipient of plasma-derived therapies

I’m a primary immunodeficiency plasma recipient. Everything you do, in going to the center, all the time you spend on making a donation is appreciated.

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Austen

Recipient of plasma-derived therapies

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How are plasma therapies made?

You may have recently learned that different types of therapies can be created with your plasma donation. Amazing, right? But, how exactly is this possible?

How does a plasma donation turn into a life-changing therapy?

Great question. Obviously, there’s a bit more you need to know about what goes into developing these therapies. We’re here to break it down for you.

What happens to my plasma after donating?

Here’s the step-by-step guide of what happens to your plasma when you donate.

Collection: A donor gives blood plasma, which is frozen and stored.
Collection

A donor gives blood plasma, which is frozen and stored.

Receipt and testing: The plasma is taken to a manufacturing facility to be tested and made sure it is safe to use.
Receipt and testing

The plasma is taken to a manufacturing facility to be tested and made sure it is safe to use.

Fractionation: The plasma is thawed and separated into its individual proteins.
Fractionation

The plasma is thawed and separated into its individual proteins.

Purification: The proteins are further isolated and purified.
Purification

The proteins are further isolated and purified.

Filling: The proteins are put into vials or bags.
Filling

The proteins are put into vials or bags.

Packaging and distribution: The proteins are labeled and packaged, then shipped to patients.
Packaging and distribution

The proteins are labeled and packaged, then shipped to patients.

Plasma’s journey from donation to distribution to patient can take up to 12 months. This complex process involves several steps in order to ensure the quality and safety of every plasma-derived therapy produced.

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