They attack bacteria by squeezing through capillary walls to reach the area of infection where they destroy bacteria. White blood cells are also made in the bone marrow, and are produced at twice the rate of red blood cells. A disease related to white cells is Leukemia . Click here to see how platelet transfusions helped to save Frank Malkiewicz's life. Platelets are colorless cells, produced in the bone marrow by the fragments of megakaryocytes, whose main function is to control bleeding by helping to form wound - healing blood clots.
Platelets also assure that blood vessels stay leakproof in daily life.
Platelets adhere to torn blood vessels to create a plug, slowing the loss of blood. Plasma is the source of gamma globulin, serum albumin, fibrinogen and clotting factors. Everyone has an ABO blood type that is inherited in the same way as your eye and hair color. A small percentage of people have rare blood types . NYBC invites you to visit the Puget Sound Blood Center Web site for an interactive, graphically rich educational presentation about blood and hematology, the study of blood.