Plasma that is donated is used either for transfusion to patients or for manufacture into medicines. Plasma that is transfused to patients is used in emergency situations to replace the blood volume lost by these patients or in treatment of certain blood disorders. People with type AB blood make excellent plasma donors because their plasma can be transfused to a patient with any blood type.

Plasma donated for patient transfusion in the U.S. is donated by volunteer donors. However, most of the plasma donated each year, up to 20 million units, is used by pharmaceutical companies. These companies pool together large volumes of plasma, process it, and manufacture it into drugs. People with all blood types are encouraged to donate plasma for this purpose.

Donors who would like to donate plasma for use by pharmaceutical manufacturers donate at Commercial Plasma Donor Centers (as opposed to the local blood bank), and they are paid for the plasma donation.