Glossary

Albumin - As the first plasma treatment ever produced, this plasma-derived medicine was created to replace lost blood volume and essential blood proteins following trauma, shock and severe burns. Albumin is also the name of a naturally occurring protein found in plasma.

Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency - Alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is a condition in which the body does not make enough of a protein that protects the lungs and liver from damage. The condition can lead to emphysema and liver disease.

Applicant donor - Also referred to as a new donor, this is someone who has donated one time or returned for a second donation but whose plasma test results haven't been received yet.

Center manager - A BioFirst plasma donation center team member who functions as the general manager of his or her donor center and is responsible for the center's entire operation, including building relationships and recruiting donors.

Center Medical Specialist - A BioFirst plasma donation center team member who holds the appropriate medical and state certifications and licenses and is responsible for assessing and evaluating the physical and mental health of each prospective donor to determine if he or she is able to safely donate.

Center quality manager - A member of the BioFirst plasma donation center team who is responsible for ensuring donor center compliance with quality standards and all state, federal and company regulations.

Centrifuge - A machine that separates contents of various densities, such as plasma from blood, by spinning at such a high speed that the matter with the highest density is forced away from the center.

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) - A debilitating neurological disorder characterized by tingling or numbness in the legs and arms and muscle weakness and fatigue that can lead to severe impairment of motor skills.

Clotting disorder - A condition in which there is an increased tendency for excessive blood clotting, often repeated and over an extended period of time.

Convalescent Plasma - An antibody-rich product made from plasma donated by people who have recovered from the disease caused by the virus.

Coronavirus - A large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections

COVID-19 - The infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus, named SARS-CoV-2. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.

Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) - A set of guidelines established by the FDA to ensure quality, identity, strength and purity of products and their production through adherence to approved practices and thorough documentation.

Deferred donor - A prospective donor who has been disqualified from donating plasma, either temporarily or permanently.

Donor processor - A BioFirst plasma donation center team member who greets donors and confirms that they have the required documentation, assists donors with their initial paperwork and begins the initial health screening.

Donor referral bonus - A BioFirst plasma incentive program where qualified donors can invite friends and family to become donors in exchange for a referral bonus.

EMA - The European Medicines Agency is responsible for the protection and promotion of public and animal health through the evaluation and supervision of medicines for human and veterinary use. Many of our plasma donor centers are inspected and licensed by the EMA.

Factor VIII - FVIII is an essential blood-clotting protein, also known as antihemophilic factor (AHF). In humans, factor VIII is encoded by the F8 gene. Defects in this gene result in hemophilia A, a recessive X-linked blood coagulation disorder.

FDA - The United States Department of Food and Drug Administration is an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services that oversees the core functions of Medical Products and Tobacco, Foods, Global Regulatory Operations and Policy, and Operations. All BioFirst plasma donation centers are inspected and licensed by the FDA.

Fractionation - The separation of therapeutic proteins in plasma through physical and chemical processes.

Genetic emphysema - A condition caused by an alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency where the small air sacs in the lungs are damaged resulting in a hacking cough and difficulty breathing.

Hematocrit - A blood test that measures the volume of whole blood made up of red blood cells and that is based on the number and size of those cells.

Hemophilia - A bleeding disorder in which a clotting factor protein, such as factor VIII or IX, is completely or partially lacking or doesn't function normally.

Hyperimmune Globulin - Plasma derived-medicines that are effective in the treatment of severe acute infections.

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) - A disorder caused by unusually low levels of platelets (the cells that help blood clot) that can result in excessive bruising and bleeding.

Immune deficiency - A condition caused by viruses, medications, diseases or a genetic defect in which part or all of the immune system is impaired.

Immune globulin (IG) - A plasma-derived medicine that treats primary immune deficiencies as well as a rare neurological disorder called chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP).

Intravenous - Exiting or taking place within, or administered into, a vein or veins.

Lapsed donor - A qualified donor who has not made a plasma donation at a BioFirst plasma donation center within the past 180 days.

New donor - A person who is interested in donating plasma but hasn't donated at a BioFirst plasma donation center.

Pathogen - A bacterium, virus or other microorganism that can cause disease.

Phlebotomist (pronounced fluh-BOT-uh-mist) - A BioFirst plasma donation center team member who prepares donors for plasma donation and monitors them throughout the plasmapheresis process.

Plasma-derived therapy/medicine - Unique, biologic medicines developed from human plasma that are either infused or injected to treat a variety of rare, life-threatening, chronic and genetic diseases.

Plasma donation - The process of collecting plasma (blood plasma) through plasmapheresis (definition below) for use in the production of medical therapies.

Plasma - The liquid portion of blood that remains after red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and other cellular components are removed. It contains water, salts, enzymes, antibodies and other proteins.

Plasma processor - A BioFirst plasma donation center team member who collects and processes donor samples for testing and packs and prepares samples for shipment to the testing labs.

Plasmapheresis (pronounced PLAZ-mah fair-EE-sis) - A specialized donation procedure using machines that separate plasma from whole blood and collect the plasma while returning the rest of the blood (including red and white blood cells) back to the donor.

Primary immunodeficiency disease (PIDD) - The cause of genetic conditions that occur when a person's immune system lacks the healthy antibodies needed to fight off infections caused by viruses and bacteria; characterized by recurring, debilitating and chronic infections.

Proteins - Also called blood proteins or serum proteins, these molecules are found in the plasma, which is the liquid portion of the blood, and are responsible for important bodily functions.

Purification - A step in the plasma-derived medicine manufacturing process where plasma proteins further separate from each other before going through the virus-inactivation process.

Qualified donor - A donor who has donated two times, completed a medical exam and two full health history screenings, undergone two full batteries of infectious disease testing with negative results, and continued to donate with less than six months between plasma donations.

Rabies - A deadly disease caused by a virus. The virus is found in the saliva of a rabid animal and is transmitted by a bite, or possibly by saliva contamination of an open cut or the eyes. Left untreated rabies attacks the nervous system and causes death.

Regierungspräsidium Darmstadt (Regional Council Darmstadt) (RPDA) - The regional council of the German Health Authority. Its main responsibilities are for health, integration, immigration law, regional planning, construction, economy, transport, labor and environmental protection, agriculture, forestry, nature conservation and consumer protection. As such, many of our plasma donor centers are inspected and licensed by the RPDA.

SARS-CoV-2 Virus - The coronavirus (CoV) causing COVID-19.

Serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) test - A testing method used to analyze and identify the presence of abnormal proteins, to identify the absence of normal proteins, and to determine if different groups of proteins are present in unusually high or low amounts. A donor cannot donate until the results of the donor's SPE test have been received and reviewed.

Serum sample - A sample of protein serum that is collected at the initial physical exam and then every four months thereafter is put though an SPE test (definition above).

Specialty plasma - Plasma containing specific levels of certain antibodies that are required for the manufacture of several Grifols medicines, including Anti-D, Anti-Hepatitis B and Anti-Tetanus.

Subcutaneous - Performed or introduced under the skin, as an injection by a syringe.

Tetanus - A disease caused by toxin-producing bacterium. In a spore form, the bacterium is harmless. However, the bacteria are most dangerous when they release toxin (poison) inside the human body.

von Willebrand disease (VWD) - A bleeding disorder in which the blood protein von Willebrand factor (VWF) is either deficient or defective.

von Willebrand factor (VWF) - A blood protein and carrier for factor VIII (definition above) that helps platelets plug injured blood vessel walls by causing them to stick together.