Significance

• Human plasma is essential to create medical treatments for patients with rare diseases. Hemophilia, primary immunodeficiency and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency are all conditions that benefit from plasma protein therapies. Trauma patients, such as those suffering from burns or shock, can also benefit from therapies derived from plasma.
  
  

Donation Guidelines

• Plasma donation centers must adhere to strict guidelines established by the Food and Drug Administration. According to DonatingPlasma, plasmas donors must be 18, weigh at least 110 lbs. and in good health. Certain medications, recent illnesses, foreign travels, piercings and tattoos may prevent you from donating plasma.
  
  

Frequency

• The frequency of donating plasma is different from blood donation guidelines. When donating plasma, whole blood is drawn, the plasma is separated from the red blood cells, and the red blood cells are returned to the donor. The human body has the ability to replace the donated plasma in 48 hours. Federal regulations allow people to donate twice in a seven-day period, with at least one day in between donations.