White Blood Cells (WBCs) are the largest of the three types of cells and are responsible for fighting infections or germs. White Blood cells have a rather short life cycle, living from a few days to a few weeks. One drop of Blood can contain from 7,000 to 25,000 white Blood cells. If an invading infection fights back and persists, that number will significantly increase.
Red Blood Cells (RBCs) make up approximately 40% of Blood volume, carry oxygen to the cells of your body and return to the lungs to excrete carbon dioxide.
Platelets, the smallest of the Blood cells; make up 5% to 7% of total Blood volume. Platelets form a 'mesh' net to form clots in the Blood to help stop bleeding.
There are five types of White Blood Cells (WBCs):
basophil - acts on smooth muscle and Blood cell walls;
eosinophil - acts against infestations of parasitic larvae;
lymphocyte - recognizes surface markers on cells and targets them for destruction if foreign to the body;
monocyte - formed bone marrow, monocytes migrate into connective tissue and become macrophages; and,
neutrophil - the first line of defense, 100 billion mature neutrophils are released into the body everyday.
There are about one billion red Blood cells in a few drops of whole Blood.
Red Blood cells live about 120 days in our bodies.
Red Blood cells can be stored under normal conditions for up to 42 days.
Frozen red Blood cells can be stored for ten years, and more.
Platelets must be used within five days.
Platelets are small Blood cells that assist in the process of Blood clotting helping those with leukemia and other cancers, controlling bleeding.
Plasma
Plasma, the fourth major component of Blood, is a sticky, pale yellow fluid mixture of water, protein and salts. It is 95% water. The other 5% is made up of nutrients, proteins and hormones.
Blood Plasma constitutes 55% of the volume of human Blood.
Plasma helps maintain Blood pressure, carries Blood cells, nutrients, enzymes and hormones, and supplies critical proteins for Blood clotting and immunity.
Plasma can be collected from a normal healthy donor twice weekly (max. every 48 hours) and is the most frequently donor paid-for component of Blood. Plasma is often referred to as "the college students beer money."
Type AB plasma has been considered as the universal Blood plasma type, and therefore AB plasma is given to patients with any Blood type.
Frozen Plasma can be stored for up to one year.
Human Blood; red Blood cells, white Blood cells, plasma and platelets are made naturally by the body in the bone marrow.
