Normal human blood plasma is a satisfactory substitute for whole blood in the treatment of certain conditions, such as shock with or without hemorrhage, burns and the restoration and maintenance of body proteins, and in the emergency treatment of severe hemorrhage. It has the advantage of not undergoing progressive changes or requiring typing or cross matching.
The usefulness of blood plasma is enhanced when it is prepared in powder form by the lyophile process, for then it can be stored a long time without deterioration.
As available on the market, powdered blood plasma is packed in an ampule vial, accompanied by a bottle containing 250 cc. of sterilized distilled water. When the two are mixed they yield the original volume of the untreated blood plasma. This solution is effected by means of a double pointed connecting needle, one point of which is inserted manually through the stopper in the vial