Plasma

Plasma is the liquid part of the blood and lymphatic fluid, which makes up about half of its volume. Plasma is devoid of cells and, unlike serum, has not clotted. It is prepared from whole blood that is collected with anticoagulants (9:1) and centrifuged to remove cells and cellular debris. Some of the more common proteins found in plasma are albumin and prealbumin, α1-acid glycoprotein, transferrin, lipoproteins (HDL, LDL, and VLDL), immunoglobulins, complement proteins, and coagulation proteins (thrombin, plasminogin, and fibrinogen). Citrated plasma contains citrate (3.8% trisodium citrate) as an anticoagulant.

Plasma contains a variety of proteins with diverse functions. The primary functions of the plasma proteins include the maintenance of colloid osmotic pressure, pH, and electrolyte balance; the transport of metal ions, fatty acids, steroids, hormones, and drugs to various organs of the body; use as a source for amino acids for tissue nourishment; hemostasis and the prevention of thrombosis; the regulation of cellular activity and function through hormone signaling; and defense against invasion through the actions of antibodies and complement components.

Plasma has been used to maintain steroid hormones. It has also been used for coagulation purpose in primary cerebellar slice cultures and chicken embryos slices.

Whole blood collected with anticoagulants (9:1), pooled, and centrifuged. The resulting plasma is 0.45 μm filtered and lyophilized from the indicated volumes.

This product is prepared from pooled chicken blood. It contains 3.8% trisodium citrate as an anticoagulant. It is tested for clotting, which indicates that the clotting factors in the product are active. However, it is not analyzed to determine whether other enzymes present are native or denatured. The resulting plasma is 0.45 microm filtered and lyophilized from the indicated volume.