Source Plasma for Fractionation
Plasma can be given at plasma collection centers located throughout the U.S. and Europe, through a process called plasmapheresis. During this process, whole blood is separated into cellular and other components by using specialized equipment called a plasmapheresis device. This sterile, self-contained, automated process separates red blood cells and other cellular components in the blood, which are then returned to the donor. The first plasma donation takes up to three hours and involves completing a health screenings, donor education, and the donation process itself. Subsequent plasma donations take approximately one-and-a-half to two hours. In the U.S., a person may donate two times in a seven day period, with at least two days in between donations. In Europe, the amount of plasma that can be given, and the frequency with which an individual can donate, differs by nation.
Source plasma collection in the U.S. is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and in Europe is regulated by the appropriate national regulatory authority. Further, source plasma collection is guided by the voluntary International Quality Plasma Program standards.