What is the procedure called for extracting plasma from donated blood?

The procedure for extracting plasma from donated blood is called plasmapheresis. This process involves drawing whole blood from a donor, separating the plasma from other blood components like red blood cells and platelets, and then returning the cellular components back to the donor. Plasmapheresis is specifically designed to selectively collect plasma, which contains proteins, antibodies, and other substances used for medical therapies.

This method is crucial in the context of plasma donation because it allows for the collection of high volumes of plasma while minimizing the impact on the donor’s overall blood composition. It ensures that the donor can safely provide plasma without undergoing the removal of too many red blood cells or other essential components, as would occur if whole blood was collected for donation. This is particularly important for therapeutic plasma products such as immunoglobulins and clotting factors used in various treatments.