Red Cell Reinfusion and the Frequency of Plasma Donations

With the Technical Assistance of Ina Ho and Nancy Baldwin The average donation of 500 cc. of blood entails the loss to the donor of approximately 75 Gm. of hemoglobin and 17.5 Gm. of plasma proteins, or a total of approximately 92.5 Gm. of proteins (taking hemoglobin for practical purposes as 100 per cent protein). The red cells as a rule are discarded, so that 80 per cent of the protein donated may be said to be wasted. This waste in the 5 million units of plasma required by the armed forces this year represents a loss of 375,000 Kg. of human hemoglobin and 188 Kg. of iron! If, however, the red cells are reinfused into the donor, then he is relieved of 80 per cent of this protein drain and from purely quantitative considerations should be able, theoretically, to donate plasma five times