Donating plasma isn’t quite the same as donating blood, but the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association says it plays a critical role in Indiana and the rest of the country.

“Plasma makes up 55% of our blood and most of it is water. In the plasma are critical proteins and antibodies that help clot our blood and protect us from infectious diseases,” said Anita Brikman, President and CEO of the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association.

Brikman says people with chronic life-threatening conditions and diseases don’t make the proteins and antibodies on their own, which is why plasma is critical for them.

The process for donating plasma can take longer than donating blood.

“Here’s why. Plasma is extracted with something called plasmapheresis. That means the blood comes out and the plasma is separated in a sterile, self-contained, automated process. The red blood cells and other cellular components go back to the donor. People can regenerate plasma more quickly than they can whole blood,” said Brikman.

With a whole blood donation, no cells are returned to you. The donated whole blood unit may be processed into components, such as packed red cells and plasma. These can then benefit more than one recipient.

“But before you make a plasma donation, it’s always good to drink plenty of water and eat plenty of proteins,” said Brikman.

On Wednesday, you’ll hear about how you can financially benefit from donating plasma and some of the challenges in getting plasma donations.

This week is International Plasma Awareness Week.