Donating plasma and donating blood are essentially the same process: the entry questionnaire, getting hooked up to a machine, the cookie afterward. But in the US there’s a key difference: one is an act of charity, and the other an act of commerce. So why is it that you get paid to donate plasma, but not blood? Show It’s a common misconception that the Food and Drug Administration bans paying for blood. In fact, it only says blood from paid donors has to be labeled that way. But hospitals won’t use it. In practice, nobody really pays for blood, said Mario Macis, an economist at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School who has studied incentives for blood donation. “Even though it’s legal, it’s still considered not totally moral or ethical to pay cash to blood donors.” Aside from the ickiness of handing out literal blood money, the FDA worries that paying donors would jeopardize the safety of the blood supply. No one with a blood-borne illness is eligible to donate, but the agency worries that if money were on the line, donors might lie about their health or their risk behaviors. advertisement The science there is far from settled. But the World Health Organization finds it convincing enough that they discourage countries from paying blood donors. “Evidence shows significantly lower prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections among voluntary nonremunerated donors than among other types of donors,” their commentary in 2013 read. Donated blood is tested for diseases, anyway, but the FDA says it intends those steps to be redundant security measures, “like layers of an onion.” advertisement Plasma donation — in which blood is drawn, plasma separated out, and then blood cells and other components put back into you — is often compensated. The FDA doesn’t require paid plasma donations to be labeled. The reason is that plasma collected this way never goes straight into another person. It’s broken into many different protein products that will become pharmaceuticals. Along the way, these components are processed to remove or kill any virus stowaways. “The risk of infection is inherently much lower,” said Dr. Christopher Stowell, who recently chaired the FDA’s Blood Products Advisory Committee. Whole red blood cells are too fragile to undergo the same kind of processing as plasma. And there’s some evidence that paying for plasma does, indeed, lead more people to conceal their disease status or risk behaviors. For instance, the Government Accountability Office looked at California’s blood versus plasma supply back in the 1990s and found that the plasma had much higher rates of HIV. There are reports of desperate donors lying about illnesses to donate for cash. However, the type of compensation matters. In a 2013 Science paper, Macis and others found that rewards such as gift cards, coupons, and T-shirts almost always boosted donations, and they didn’t find any effects on blood safety. (The FDA doesn’t count rewards like this as payment, as long as they can’t be easily turned into cash.) “Nonmonetary incentives do work,” Macis said. He thinks using more of these motivators could help the United States manage seasonal blood shortages. Were you hoping for more than a T-shirt? Don’t even think about selling a kidney. The National Organ Transplant Act of 1984 made it illegal to pay for organs. But in the 2011 case Flynn v. Holder, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that a certain method of bone marrow donation could be compensated. Traditionally, bone marrow was collected in a surgical procedure, with a hollow needle stuck straight into the pelvis. But in a more common method called peripheral blood stem cell apheresis, donors take drugs that release the stem cells from their marrow into their blood. Then they donate the cells through a needle in the arm and an apheresis machine — just like a plasma donation. Centers that collect such cells pay up to $800, but they haven’t seen that much interest, the AP recently wrote. And the cells can’t be processed like plasma, so it’s unclear what the risk might be from paying donors in this nascent market. Whole blood, plasma, and platelet donations play an important role in fulfilling the need for blood and blood components at many hospitals and treatment facilities around the world. While the American Red Cross only allows individuals to donate plasma once every 28 days, private plasma donation companies may allow individuals to make donations multiple times a week. Read on to learn the importance of plasma donations, how often you can donate plasma, and what you need to know about the side effects of donating plasma. Plasma donations through the American Red Cross can only be made once every 28 days, or up to 13 times each year. But most private plasma-donation companies allow people to donate plasma more frequently — up to multiple times a week. Plasma donation companies that operate on a pay-per-donation system offer financial incentives for donors. For many, frequent plasma donation is a lucrative way to earn extra money. Too frequent donations may impact qualityBut research suggests that frequent donations may negatively impact the quality of the plasma. This may be due to limitations in the body’s ability to quickly regenerate important components of the plasma. In a 2010 study, researchers investigated and compared the plasma quality of donations from various countries. They found that in the United States, plasma from people who donated more frequently and in higher volumes was significantly lower in total protein, albumin, and other blood markers. Whether it’s to help fight against COVID-19 or to add an extra stream of income, plasma donation, especially frequent donation, should always be done under the supervision of your doctor. Your doctor can review your medical history, keep a close eye on your blood tests, and let you know the safest way to donate your plasma. Although people of all blood types can donate plasma, AB plasma donations are among the most important. This is because AB plasma is “universal,” meaning that it can be administered to patients of all blood types. In addition, a type of plasma called convalescent plasma may be able to be donated by people who have recovered from a disease. Once donated, this antibody-containing plasma may be used as a potential disease treatment option for infected individuals. Convalescent plasma has been researched as a potential treatment option for COVID-19, but has been a source of controversy in the medical community. Not everyone is eligible to donate blood or plasma. Here are the most common factors that may disqualify you from donating your plasma:
Check the American Red Cross’ full list of eligibility criteria on their website if you’re interested in donating plasma. Plasma donation is a safe, comfortable, and relatively easy process for most people who donate. When you arrive for your appointment, the nurses will make sure you’re comfortable and feeling well enough to go through with the donation process. Once you’re all settled in, you’ll be hooked up to a plasmapheresis machine. This machine works by removing your blood, separating out the plasma, and returning the blood back to your body. Plasma donations should always be performed in a qualified facility that utilizes sterilized equipment. Certified nurses will be available before, during, and after the entire procedure to ensure that everything is running smoothly. Plasma donation can be done more frequently than whole blood donation because a portion of the blood is returned to the body. For some people, this makes plasma donation easier — and less likely to cause side effects — than whole blood donation. And while there are generally no financial incentives for whole blood donations, private companies often pay donors for plasma donations. This distinction isn’t a hard and fast rule. But paying for whole blood donations isn’t the industry standard. The chart below outlines some of the major differences between whole blood vs. plasma donations. For most people, there are very few side effects associated with donating plasma. But potential side effects may include:
After donating plasma, the nurses will check in to see how you’re feeling and if you’re experiencing any side effects. Once you’re cleared, you’ll be given something to eat and drink before heading on your way. For the next day or so, it’s important to make sure to rehydrate and avoid doing too much strenuous activity. If you’re experiencing any other concerning side effects, such as pain or fever, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. The American Red Cross allows people to donate plasma up to 13 times per year. But some private companies allow donors to donate plasma much more frequently. Whole blood, plasma, and platelet donations are always in high need at hospitals and other treatment facilities. Ask your doctor to make sure that you’re healthy and able to donate before you decide to do so. Is donating plasma worth it?Donating plasma is an important, voluntary act that can help save lives. Like donated blood, your plasma is used in trauma situations in hospitals to help those in need. Plasma helps to stop bleeding during emergency situations.
How many times a month can you donate plasma?How often can you donate plasma? You can donate plasma as often as every 2 weeks, if you wish. This is more often than blood donation where men have to wait 12 weeks and women 16 weeks between donations.
How much do you get for plasma?The amount you will make for selling plasma varies depending on a number of factors, but plasma donation centers generally offer between $30 and $60 per donation session. Still, selling your plasma comes with drawbacks. Here's everything you need to know about this potential side hustle.
How long does it take to donate plasma?Donating takes about 45 minutes, and you can use that time to read, catch up on your favourite TV shows or just enjoy some uninterrupted down time.
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How much does donating plasma get you
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