Plasma donation process.
Donating blood plasma offers a relatively quick and simple way to earn some extra cash while providing a vital resource to help others. There are some pros and cons to the donation process, and learn more about what to expect below. Having a few hundred dollars more each month to cover the cost of groceries, rent, gas, and everyday life would be welcomed by many low to moderate income people and those who live paycheck to paycheck. However always be aware of the process, the regulations from the US Food and Drug Administration as well as Human Services Department.
Approximately 55% of blood is plasma. Some brief background on what that means - plasma is in effect the liquid portion of blood that contains elements required for clotting and antibodies that help to fight off infections. The proteins are used to develop medicines for treating cancer, hemophilia, emphysema, and other chronic diseases.
Criteria for donors
Donors must usually be at least 18 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds. Some states allow donors as young as 16 with parental consent. Generally, the more a person weighs, the more plasma they can donate. The US government Health and Human Services Department (HHS) has more guidelines on this criteria as well (find details and the link below).
Donors must be in good health. They can't be pregnant or have experienced recent childbirth, however many single mothers do become donors as they often need the money to help them pay the bills and make ends meet. Persons cannot have had dental work 72 hours before donating. Anyone who has obtained a tattoo or body piercing within 12 months or who has had hepatitis, hemophilia, sickle cell anemia, or certain types of cancer will be rejected.
All major plasma donation companies are required to follow rules, processes and regulations imposed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be certified. The FDA does allow a center to pay cash to donors, and some centers will also give free gift cards or gasoline vouchers. HHS rules and regulations also need to be followed. According to the FDA, there are around 1000 licensed plasma donation centers in the U.S.
The plasma donation procedure
Plasma is roughly 92% water, so you should drink at least 6-8 cups of water the day before and the day of donating to compensate for the expected loss. Donors need to be well hydrated. Eating a small meal or snack before donating will reduce the chances of experiencing faintness.
Your first visit to a donation center will usually require the longest time to process. This is due to the need to fill out initial paperwork and complete a required health screening. Take multiple forms of identification, including a driver's license or government-issued ID card, Social Security card, proof of residency, and a recent bill with your current address. Donors are usually required to reside in the local community.
The donor will need to complete a significant amount of paperwork. It will ask for medical history, any immunizations that the applicant has had, a list of current medications, whether they are on drugs or alcohol, review travel history, and much more. During a medical screening, your pulse, weight, blood pressure, and temperature will be checked, and a little blood will be taken from a finger to measure protein and iron levels. You will also be given a brief physical exam on your first visit. The medical screening will be conducted before every donation, but the physical exam will only be required annually.
A consent form will also need to be signed, so always review this form closely. It will discuss the donors legal rights and obligations. If there is something that is too complicated in this consent form, and if the person does not feel comfortable in signing it, then they should back away and go somewhere else.
Not all appointments take 2 hours. It may take a little longer the first time someone were to give due to the physical and paperwork needed as noted above This window of time spent donating is really what a company is paying money to the individual for, as any funds are provided to compensate for travel as well as the time spent at the location.
This in effect is a good thing as it saves on gas and transportation costs, however never hesitate to ask for gasoline vouchers as many centers give them to low to moderate income families to help pay for transportation.
The donation procedure is similar to donating blood. The next step is really to give plasma (blood). You'll be made comfortable in a chair or bed. An area on your arm will be cleaned with antiseptic, and the certified medical technician will insert a needle into a vein. Blood is extracted, plasma is separated, and the remaining blood, including red blood cells, platelets, and a saline solution, is returned to your vein through the same needle. There will be a special machine used to separate the blood and plasma, but that is really the only difference in how someone were to donate.
Expect your first visit to require about two hours. Subsequent visits will be shorter since there will be less paperwork to complete. The physical donation process should only take about 40 minutes, and you can read, listen to a podcast, watch TV, or simply relax during that time. Some centers may pay out $100 dollars or more to the donors for those 40 minutes sessions. As you can see, it can be a great way to make a little extra money.
As with any medical procedure, plasma donation has potential risks and side effects, although most are considered minor. To minimize the risks, donations should only be given at accredited centers. Also, if you have any questions on any of this, always check with your doctor or medical professional. Or if you do not have one, check with the medical staff at a free clinic.
The pain involved in the plasmas donation process should be no more than a pinprick and last only a few seconds. Some donors experience slight bruising to the needle site during or after the procedure. You may feel faint or dizzy after donating. Staff will usually have you rest for 15 minutes following donation and provide a drink and snack to counter any faintness.
You may experience a minor reaction such as redness, swelling, and itching if you're allergic to antiseptics. Such a localized reaction is unlikely to be dangerous. There is no risk of getting the wrong blood back during the process. FDA regulations require machines to be sterilized after each use, and any equipment that comes into physical contact with a donor is discarded.
Check with medical professional about donating plasma
The guidelines above are intended to give you a little more detail on what is involved and the donation process. Donors will be compensated for giving back. While donors can make some extra cash, always keep in mind that anything involving health, there are pros, cons, and risks to donating plasma for compensation. For more details on the medical aspects for donors, read more on Health and Human Services Plasma Donor guidelines.
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