Blood components

Your blood is made from four different parts:

• Red blood cells carry oxygen, which is the body’s fuel. Red blood cells can be used to treat patients with anaemia including those with blood loss due to trauma, childbirth or major surgery; patients with cancer; and those with inherited red cell disorders like sickle cell disorder or thalassaemia.
• Plasma is the straw-coloured liquid part of blood that contains proteins. It can be used to prevent bleeding and for critically ill patients who are currently bleeding. Plasma can also be used to make immunoglobulin therapy, to help patients with weak immune systems fight infection and to make albumin, to help patients with burns and liver disease.
• Platelets are needed for blood to clot. They can be given to patients with inherited platelet disorders and those with low platelet counts due to cancers or treatments to prevent or treat abnormal bleeding
• White blood cells fight infections by destroying bacteria, viruses, and other germs. White blood cells are rarely transfused but can be used as a temporary measure for people with a low white cell count and severe infection which has not responded to antibiotics.

Of these four parts, we usually use three - red cells, plasma and platelets. By giving blood, you can save or improve the lives of up to three different patients in Scotland.