What is Plasma?
Whole blood is made up of a straw-colored liquid called plasma and blood cells such as white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets that float in this fluid.
Human plasma has many important functions in the body, such as transporting nutrients and hormones, redistributing water, maintaining blood pressure, regulating body temperature, and providing a defense against infections. Read: Which Is More Important: Systolic Or Diastolic Blood Pressure?
Introduction to Plasma Donation
There are two ways to donate blood. You can donate whole blood or you can donate plasma. The latter is also called plasmapheresis.
During a plasma donation, a healthcare provider places a needle in your vein to withdraw blood. The blood is then processed in a centrifuge machine that spins it to separate the plasma and blood cells. The separated plasma is retained in the machine, and the remaining components (blood cells) are returned to your body in a saline (saltwater) solution.
Your plasma is then frozen within 24 hours to preserve the immunoglobulins and clotting factors. Fresh frozen plasma has a shelf life of up to 12 months.
Anyone can donate plasma as long as they meet the eligibility criteria. However, plasma from people with blood type AB is preferred as it does not contain antibodies and can be given to people of all blood types.
Overview of Compensation for Plasma Donation
On average, most plasma donation centers offer $50 to $75 per appointment. New donors may receive a bonus payment and be able to collect up to $1,100 in the first month.
Some plasma collection centers offer graded payments to encourage repeat donations. This means you will get paid more for donating a second time in a week or six times in 4 weeks. The overall compensation can vary depending on your body weight, plasma volume collected, the location of the plasma center, and any ongoing special offers or bonuses.
The money you receive is usually loaded onto a debit card that you can use immediately. You may also be able to join a loyalty program and earn points or rewards at some plasma centers.
Eligibility and Requirements for Donating Plasma
Basic Requirements for Plasma Donors
The general requirements for plasma donors are:
Age 18 years or older.
Body weight 110 pounds or more.
In overall good health.
Willing to undergo a medical screening, including testing for hepatitis and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) prior to plasma donation.
Keep in mind that donor eligibility may vary. You should reach out to the facility to find out their specific requirements.
Health and Lifestyle Criteria
Certain people are not eligible to donate plasma based on health conditions such as:
People who have blood pressure outside a healthy range.
Those with hemoglobin, iron levels, or protein levels outside the normal range.
People who test positive for transmissible diseases, such as HIV or hepatitis.
Those who got a tattoo or piercing in the last 4 months
Cold, flu, or illness symptoms on the day of donation.
Understanding the Screening Process
At the time of your first plasma donation, you will undergo a brief physical examination by a healthcare provider. Regular plasma donors are required to undergo a physical exam every year to ensure they remain in good health.
After the first donation, you will still need to undergo a health screening every time you donate plasma. This is to ensure you are in good health. During the screening, a healthcare provider will ask you a series of questions about your health. They will also check your vital signs (pulse rate, blood pressure, and body temperature). In addition, you will have to provide a blood sample for HIV and hepatitis screening.
Factors Affecting Compensation
How Often Can You Donate Plasma?
According to American Red Cross guidelines, you can donate plasma every 28 days, up to 13 times a year.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines say that you can donate plasma once every 2 days (48 hours) or twice a week.
You can donate plasma more often than you can donate whole blood. This is because some components of blood, such as white and red blood cells and platelets, are put back into your body after you donate plasma. What is a Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injection Used For?
Plasma Donation Centers and Their Compensation Structure
Comparing Plasma Centers: CSL Plasma, Grifols, BioLife, and Others
Compensation varies by location and may be subject to change. But here is a general overview of the payment offered by plasma donation centers:
CSL Plasma
Up to $100 for your first donation.
Over $700 in the first month for new donors.
Grifols
$30 for the first donation of the week.
$30 to $70 for the second donation of the week, depending on plasma volume collected and your membership level (orange, silver, or gold).
$30 bonus if a second donation is made within 7 days of the first donation, $60 bonus if your sixth donation is made within 4 weeks of the first donation, and $90 bonus if your eighth donation is made within 8 weeks of the first donation.
You can choose to give the money to a charitable organization and receive a tax receipt.
BioLife Plasma Services
Up to $800 for 8 donations.
Others
ABO Plasma: $380, $460, or $540 for 8 donations depending on your body weight.
ADMA BioCenter: $50 to $350 per month.
Octapharma Plasma: Compensation is based on donation frequency. They offer incentives for referring friends ($50 per friend).
Special Promotions and Bonuses for New Donors
Many plasma donation centers have special promotions from time to time. Additionally, you may qualify for new donor offers if you have just started donating plasma or you haven’t donated at a center for 6 months or longer.
Impact of Weight and Volume of Plasma Donated
Some plasma donation centers offer compensation to donors based on their body weight. For example:
Body weight 110 to 149.9 pounds: $20 each for the first four donations and $60, $70, $80, and $90 for the next four donations.
Body weight 150 to 174.9 pounds: $30 each for the first four donations and $70, $80, $90, and $100 for the next four donations.
Body weight 175 to 400 pounds: $40 each for the first four donations and $80, $90, $100, and $110 for the next four donations.
Other plasma donation centers have a payment structure based on the volume of plasma donated. Payment also varies based on your membership level. For example:
Collected volume 180-975 mL: $30 for the first donation of the week.
Collected volume 180-669 mL: $30 for the second donation of the week.
Collected volume 670-849 mL: $50 to $60 for the second donation of the week.
Collected volume 850-899 mL: $55 to $65 for the second donation of the week.
Collected volume 900-975 mL: $60 to $70 for the second donation of the week.
The Donation Process: What to Expect
Pre-Donation Preparation
In the days before your appointment, in preparation for plasma donation, you should:
Contact your local donation center to learn about their specific requirements since the eligibility criteria may vary depending on the location.
Eat a healthy, iron-rich, protein-rich diet.
Limit alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine intake.
Stay well hydrated. In addition to your recommended daily intake), the American Red Cross recommends drinking two more cups of water before your appointment to ensure you are well-hydrated for your appointment.
Sleep well and arrive well-rested for your appointment.
The Plasma Donation Procedure
The plasma donation process can take up to 2 hours from check-in to recovery. After you have been screened, the healthcare staff will set you up with the plasmapheresis device. This specialized machine collects whole blood from a vein in your arm. You may feel slight discomfort at the time of the needle prick. The machine spins your blood to separate the plasma before returning the remaining components (blood cells) to your body. You may also receive oral fluids or a saline infusion during the donation to maintain circulation. Staff at the donation center will monitor you throughout the process to ensure you are comfortable.
Post-Donation Care and Side Effects
After you donate plasma, you will be asked to remain in the donation center for about 15 minutes as a precaution. The staff will show you how to take care of the bandage.
You can continue to eat and drink normally after plasma donation. Most people like to eat a small snack to restore energy after they have donated plasma.
Common side effects of plasma donation include:
Dehydration
Tiredness
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Bruising or bleeding
Low immunoglobulin levels in regular donors
Anemia due to loss of red blood cells in frequent donors
Understanding the Impact and Use of Donated Plasma
How Donated Plasma is Used
Plasma is commonly given to trauma patients who have lost a lot of blood due to an injury or accident. It is also given to burn and shock patients. Additionally, people with bleeding disorders, clotting disorders, severe liver disease, and immune deficiency may need plasma infusions.
Plasma is also used in medical research. It contains proteins and antibodies that are used to make life-saving medicines for rare diseases.
Plasma can also be frozen for later use. Specifically, fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) is used in cases of significant blood loss where a massive transfusion is indicated. It is also used in patients with clotting disorders who are bleeding or at risk of bleeding.
The Importance of Plasma Donation
Plasma cannot be made in laboratories. Therefore, plasma-based therapies are only possible with plasma collected from donors.
According to some estimates, it can take anywhere from 100 to over 1,000 plasma donations to make medications for one patient for one year. Plasma is in short-supply and therefore companies offer compensation to plasma donors for their generosity.
The plasma donation process allows you to contribute towards the health of others and save lives, while being rewarded for your time and efforts with some extra money.
Getting Started with Plasma Donation
Finding a Plasma Donation Center
You can use this location tool to find a plasma donation center near you. Simply enter your city or zip code and how far you are willing to travel (10 to 250 miles) and find plasma centers nearby.
What to Bring to Your First Appointment
Call the plasma center and make a list of all the necessary documents you will need to bring to your appointment. You typically need:
A government-issued ID
Proof of permanent address, such as a utility bill or driver’s license
Social Security card, paystub, or W-2 form
Dress comfortably in a short-sleeved shirt or a shirt with sleeves that can be rolled up easily. Bring something for entertainment while you donate plasma, such as a book or tablet.
Tips for a Successful Donation Experience
Plasma is mostly water. Therefore, staying well hydrated can make the plasma donation process easier on your body. A sugar-free or low-sugar fruit juice is also a good alternative to support fluid intake. Plan to drink 1-2 liters of water or juice in the hours preceding your plasma donation appointment.
Eat a healthy diet (iron-rich and protein-rich) in the days leading up to your appointment.
Sleep well and get enough rest.
Take it easy for the rest of the day after your plasma donation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make $500 a month donating plasma?
It may be possible to make $500 a month donating plasma for a person who donates multiple times a month.
Can you really make $900 donating plasma?
Some people can make $900 by donating plasma. This is usually only possible for first-time donors who receive new donor bonus offers or those who donate multiple times a month. The compensation for frequent donors varies depending on body weight, plasma volume collected, and the frequency of donations.
Which plasma donation pays the most?
There can be a difference in compensation offered by various plasma donation centers depending on the location, your body weight, plasma volume collected, new donor bonuses, and ongoing special offers. It is best to call plasma collection centers near you and find out their payment structure.
How much money can you make donating plasma at Grifols?
Grifols pays $30 to $70 per plasma donation. The exact compensation will depend on the plasma volume collected and donation frequency.
