A plasmapheresis system and a method for operating a plasmapheresis system are provided by which the volume/weight of anticoagulated plasma that is collected is optimized. In one example, a nomogram is provided that utilizes the donor's hematocrit to calculate the volume/weight of raw plasma within a plasma product having the maximum volume permitted by the FDA nomogram. In a plasmapheresis procedure having multiple collection phases followed by a reinfusion cycle in which concentrated red blood cells are returned to the donor, the volume of plasma product to be collected is calculated prior to the start of each collection cycle to account for the donor's increasing hematocrit, thus resulting in a greater total volume of plasma product to be collected during the plasmapheresis procedure.