Plasma, the acellular component of blood, is composed of water, carbohydrates, electrolytes, and a wide variety of proteins. These proteins are critical for the maintenance of colloid osmotic pressure, and pH balance; but they also have more direct roles in nutrition, the transport of lipophilic compounds, and the maintenance of hemostasis. Plasma proteins include critical clotting factors, such as fibrinogen, factor VIII, and factor IX. Plasma is processed by various methods to produce different products with unique compositions and varying clinical uses.