Definition
Definition
Plasma is the liquid part of the blood that contributes to the composition of certain tissues (group of cells constituting an organ).
Symptoms
physiology
Blood cells , including:, are bathed in plasma
- The Red cells or red blood cells.
- The white blood cells or leukocytes.
- The platelets.
Particularly rich in hormones and nutrients such as minerals ( electrolytes ), amino acids , and vitamins , blood plasma also contains other nutrients: carbohydrates (sugar), lipids (fat), and proteins (albumin and immunoglobulin: antibodies). Proteins play a role in the blood clotting process; 550 g of blood plasma make up one liter of blood.
Plasma is obtained through blood centrifugation . This technique allows for the separation of the formed elements of the blood (red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets) and the plasma itself.
For specialists: plasma is obtained after collecting blood in a tube containing an anticoagulant ( lithium heparin : for common chemistry). Sodium citrate is used for coagulation tests, protein electrophoresis, or EDTA ( ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) for cell counts and the measurement of certain hormones.
Plasma can be frozen (referred to as fresh frozen plasma) and then thawed as needed. This plasma, obtained by centrifugation and sedimentation, is delivered in vials that must be used immediately after thawing due to the risk of bacterial growth . It can also be fractionated into various proteins, each of which undergoes specific processing (isolation, consumption). It can be stored for up to one year at -30°C if it is frozen less than six hours after collection and from a single donor. It must then be used immediately after thawing. Fresh frozen plasma provides all the factors necessary for hemostasis, meaning it enables normal blood clotting in the arterial and venous circulation. However, it has one drawback: it is not concentrated and does not contain platelets.