Drew to the Rescue in World War II
Although Drew didn’t “discover” plasma as a blood substitute, his expertise and leadership were largely responsible for the program’s success, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. When it concluded in January 1941, Blood for Britain had collected 14,556 blood donations, and shipped (via the Red Cross) over 5,000 liters of plasma saline solution to England. Drew’s final report on the project established him as a leading expert on blood procurement and processing. In-house Red Cross history noted that Drew’s report “had brought together, for the benefit of hematologists working everywhere, the latest knowledge acquired by scientists working in several different fields.” It was a remarkable synthesis of research studies (both commercial and academic), clinical tests, and the practical experience gained from blood bank operations here and abroad.
The Importance of Plasma Donation
In contrast to whole blood donation, plasma donation may be done much more often (three times per week in some jurisdictions, compared to once per eight weeks for whole blood donation), because the whole blood cells are returned to the body during the donation process, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Most plasma is naturally replaced by the body within 48 hours. In some jurisdictions, and in contrast to whole blood donation, plasma donors may be compensated financially ($10–$100 per week for three to seven hours of time, normally). It is usually defined as a compensation for time and trouble rather than a “purchase” or “sale” of a body part, for various legal, ethical and cultural reasons.
