blood plasma

noun

Updated on: 17 Apr 2018

Definition of blood plasma

: the pale yellow fluid of whole blood that consists of water and its dissolved constituents including especially proteins (such as albumin, fibrinogen, and globulins)

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Recent Examples of blood plasma from the Web

Sulfate, which reacts with amino acids in the anophelins, strengthened the electrostatic forces between the proteins, making them better able to bind to the enzyme in blood plasma that causes clotting.

— vanessa zainzinger, Science | AAAS, "Mosquito spit can bust blood clots in mice," 10 Apr. 2018
In the test, the researchers studied blood plasma collected at UAB.

— lee roop, AL.com, "New blood test could lead to the end of colonoscopies," 2 Apr. 2018
The first clotting factor products, which came onto the market in the mid-1960s, were derived from human blood plasma, with thousands of donations combined to create one batch.

— jenny gold, Washington Post, "Of ‘Miracles’ And Money: Why Hemophilia Drugs Are So Expensive," 8 Mar. 2018
Scientists at the British University found a link between the disorder and higher levels of damage to particular proteins found in the blood plasma.

— jared gilmour, miamiherald, "Autism is hard to diagnose in young children. This blood test could change that, researchers say," 19 Feb. 2018
Try becoming a doctor without understanding how Charles Drew pioneered the methods of blood transfusions and storing blood plasma.

— michael harriot, The Root, "Why Black People Are Always Bringing Up Old Stuff, Explained," 15 Feb. 2018
The psychoactive metabolite, hydroxy THC, is typically eliminated from the blood plasma within six hours, Dudzik said.

— USA TODAY, "How will legalizing marijuana impact police work?," 31 Dec. 2017
Because the treatment seemed safe, Alkahest now wants to launch another trial that will use just the fraction of the blood plasma that contains growth factors, but not coagulation factors and other components that may do more harm than good.

— jocelyn kaiser, Science | AAAS, "Blood from young people does little to reverse Alzheimer’s in first test," 1 Nov. 2017
Treatment with a mix of antibodies or removing and treating blood plasma can help in therapy.

— kevin spain, USA TODAY, "Ducks forward Patrick Eaves diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome," 23 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'blood plasma.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of blood plasma

1842

Medical Dictionary

blood plasma

noun

medical Definition of blood plasma

: the pale yellow fluid portion of whole blood that consists of water and its dissolved constituents including proteins (as albumin, fibrinogen, and globulins), electrolytes (as sodium and chloride), sugars (as glucose), lipids (as cholesterol and triglycerides), metabolic waste products (as urea), amino acids, hormones, and vitamins — compare serum a(1)