During World War II, the US military used freeze-dried blood plasma for transfusions on the battlefield. Blood plasma is the clear, yellowish liquid that makes up the majority of human blood. It contains many essential proteins, including clotting factors and antibodies, that are necessary for proper blood function.
Blood plasma was first used in World War I to treat wounded soldiers, but it was difficult to transport and store due to its liquid form. The development of freeze-drying technology in the 1930s provided a solution to this problem.
In freeze-drying, blood plasma is first collected and then frozen. The frozen plasma is then placed in a vacuum chamber, where the pressure is lowered, and heat is applied. This causes the frozen plasma to sublime, or turn directly from a solid to a gas, which removes the water from the plasma. The freeze-dried plasma is then sealed in a container and can be stored for several years.
Freeze-dried plasma was an essential tool for the military during World War II, as it allowed for the quick and easy transport of blood products to the front lines. The plasma could be rehydrated and used for transfusions in the field, providing life-saving treatment for wounded soldiers.
The use of freeze-dried plasma was a significant advancement in military medicine and saved countless lives during the war. It also paved the way for the development of other freeze-dried blood products, such as red blood cells and platelets, which are still used today in military and civilian medicine.