How Much Do You Get for Donating Plasma? Â Donating plasma may sound like those “easy money” scams where you are promised to watch videos or scroll your social media and earn some money. However, blood plasma donation is an authentic industry, and many can quickly become plasma donors.
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How much do you get when you Donate plasma?
Understand that you do not get compensated with conventional Red Cross Blood donations. That is because donors may taint the blood supply only to get a paycheck. Everyone would want to donate, even the sick donors. Blood plasma is used for pharmaceutical products, so donors are compensated.
Typically, you will be compensated about $50 to $75 for every appointment in most donation centers. Note that first-time donors could secure attractive bonuses.  There are donation centers where donors could rake up to $1,100 in the first month. Your payments will be sent to your debit card at the end of the appointment.
Who is Eligible to Donate?
If you weigh 110 pounds and above and are aged between 18 and 65, you can donate blood plasma. You may come across donation centers that give additional requirements, but these are common.
The eligibility requirements for donors are complete a medical history screening and undergo an examination before donating plasma.  The screening ensures that the donor’s iron level, blood pressure, and weight meet the required weight.
Donors must also test negative for transmissible viruses like HIV and hepatitis. Your hemoglobin and protein levels will also be evaluated. However, before visiting the nearest donation center, call them first to ascertain whether you are eligible and prepare the necessary documents.
Are There Risks Involved?
This plasma industry is full of controversy. For many years, critics have been calling out the donation centers for targeting low-income families and underpaying them for donations. The risks are low when speaking of your health as a donor. You may have side effects like redness, soreness, or pain as the needle goes into the vein, but usually, that takes a few seconds.
Before going to the donation center:
- Ensure you take plenty of fluids.
- Make the screener aware if you have recently undergone surgeries or have medical conditions.
- Tell them if you had a piercing or tattoo last year.
All these could lead to complications if the screener is not aware.
How Long Does the Process Take?
The screener will ask personal health questions when you arrive at the donation center for the appointment. Your vitals, such as pulse, weight, blood pressure, and pulse, will be taken.
While donating your plasma, you could watch TV, veg out, or read a book/magazine. If you’re donating for the first time, you can expect your appointment to last two hours. You have to take a comprehensive physical exam and give your health history.
Blood Plasma Donation Process
When going to a donation center, make sure you carry with you:
- Proof of address
- Current I.D photo
- Social security ID.
Once you get to the center, the receptionist will greet you and check your ID. If this is your initial visit, the screener will subject you to a physical examination. They will also take your blood sample to assess the hematocrit and protein levels. From there, you will then complete a medical history questionnaire.
The center staff will determine if you can donate blood plasma from these tests. Once approved, you will be directed to the donation area. A technician will prepare you for the process. They will clean your arm using antiseptic and insert a needle to draw blood. After removal, the plasma is supposed to be separated from the blood.
The other components of your blood will be returned to the body via plasmapheresis. Again, the process could take around two hours if this is your first donation. The time is reduced to about 90 minutes for the return visits since not many processes are involved here. After you are done, you check out and receive your payment from the center.
The amount you receive as compensation will depend on the plasma collection facility. You can be directed to the technician for any concerns or questions about the process. While you may be tempted to make extra cash by donating your plasma, be well-informed about the venture first. This guide covers what many need to know about donating blood plasma.
Is Donating Plasma Safe?
Understand that donating plasma is the same as donating blood.  Make sure you donate to a legitimate center where you will be sure you are safe.  The entire process is secure, but you must donate blood plasma in an authentic center.
One thing to consider is getting a certified center. Ensure it is certified by the (IQPP) International Quality Plasma Program. Centers certified by this body have highly-trained professionals. Their equipment is also thoroughly cleaned and sterilized after use.
Every piece of equipment used on a donor is never used on another donor. That ensures the center does not transmit pathogens from one donor to another.
Can I Donate if I had COVID-19 in the Past?
Yes, you can still donate your plasma if you have Covid-19. It would help if you fully recovered from the virus to donate your blood plasma at contributing centers. The donor should be symptom-free and meet all the other requirements for donating plasma.
How does Blood Plasma Help Others?
Plasma helps those with severe medical conditions increase the body’s ability to heal by producing antibodies. Plasma is the vehicle by which red blood platelets can travel through the body. It is 90% water; the rest contains minerals, clotting material, hormones, and immunoglobins. Â Plasma is the liquid part of the blood. Convalescent plasma is plasma from people recovering from an infection.
It is extracted from whole blood using a centrifuge. The use of blood plasma in research contributes to the discovery of cures and treatments for medical conditions such as:
- burn victims
- hemophilia patients
- clotting failure
- auto-immune disease
- depressed immune systems
