blood disorders
Blood Products
Plasma
Plasma, the fluid component of the blood, contains many proteins, including Blood clotting factors . Blood clotting factors are proteins that work with platelets to help the blood clot. Without clotting factors, bleeding would not stop after an injury. Plasma is usually frozen immediately after it is separated from fresh blood (fresh frozen plasma). Plasma frozen within 24 hours of collection can be stored for up to 1 year. It is used for bleeding disorders in which the missing clotting factor is unknown or when the specific clotting factor is not available. Plasma also is used when bleeding is caused by insufficient production of all or many of the different clotting factors as a result of disorders such as liver failure. Doctors can specify what type of blood components are given during a transfusion so that people get only those components that are needed to treat their disorder. 