The Complete Guide To Donating Plasma: Everything You Should Know
Donating plasma is a safe and potentially lifesaving process. Plasma is the liquid part of the blood that helps carry red and white blood cells and platelets throughout the body. Plasma is often used to help people who are suffering from serious illnesses, such as cancer, liver disease, and hemophilia. When donating plasma, the donor is hooked up to an apheresis machine, which separates the plasma from the other components of the blood. The process takes about 1-2 hours and the donor is paid for their time. Phlebotomists are medical professionals who greatly contribute to the plasma donation process. A Phlebotomy procedure is used during donation collection.
Process Of Donating Plasma
1. Make an appointment: Before you can donate plasma, you must make an appointment with a plasma donation center. Most centers will require you to provide basic information such as your name, address, and phone number.
2. Fill out paperwork: Upon arriving at the donation center, you will be asked to fill out paperwork regarding your medical history. This paperwork is important as it helps the center determine if you are eligible to donate plasma.
3. Have your blood tested: You will also need to have your blood tested before you can donate. This is to ensure that your plasma is safe to be transfused into another person.
4. Donate: If you pass all of the tests, you will be allowed to donate plasma. The process of donating plasma typically takes about an hour.
5. Receive payment: After you have successfully donated, you will usually be given a payment for your time and effort. The amount of money you receive may vary depending on the donation center.
Donating Plasma: Things To Know
How much money can you earn by donating plasma?
The amount you can get for donating plasma varies depending on the donation center. Generally, you can expect to receive between $20 and $50 per donation.
What disqualifies you from donating plasma?
Most people are eligible to donate plasma, but some people may be disqualified due to certain medical, lifestyle, or travel reasons. These may include conditions such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, cancer, recent vaccinations, recent tattoos or piercings, pregnancy, recent travel to certain countries, and certain medications. Medications that disqualify someone from donating plasma include antibiotics, anticonvulsants, anti–coagulants, antithyroid medications, anti–inflammatory agents, antiretrovirals, antipsychotics, and any other medications that are used to treat chronic medical conditions.
Side effects
The side effects of donating plasma include:
1. Soreness or bruising at the injection site
2. Dizziness or lightheadedness
3. Nausea or vomiting
4. Fatigue
5. Chills
6. Low blood pressure
7. Allergic reactions
8. Infection at the injection site
Benefits of donating plasma
1. Helping Save Lives: One of the most important benefits of donating plasma is that it can help save the lives of others. Plasma can be used to treat a variety of medical conditions such as hemophilia, immune deficiencies, and burns.
2. Financial Compensation: While donating plasma should not be done solely for financial reasons, there is an added benefit of receiving compensation for your donation. Most plasma donation centers will pay donors for their plasma, typically between $20 and $50 per donation.
3. Reduced Risk of Certain Diseases: Plasma donors are tested for a variety of diseases before donating, which can help reduce their risk of contracting and spreading these diseases.
4. Improved Health: Donating plasma can help improve your own health as well. It helps rid the body of excess fluids and proteins, which can help reduce the risk of certain illnesses. Additionally, donating plasma can help increase the production of new red and white blood cells.
5. Environmental Benefits: Plasma donation can have environmental benefits as well. Many plasma donation centers are starting to use green energy to power their facilities. Additionally, plasma donations reduce the need for other medical treatments that may be hazardous to the environment.
Why do they check your elbows when donating plasma?
The purpose of the elbow check is to make sure that veins in the elbow are visible and accessible for insertion of the needle used to draw the plasma. This helps ensure a successful and safe donation process.
What to eat before donating plasma
It is recommended that you eat a meal that is high in protein and low in fat before donating plasma. This can include lean meats, eggs, fish, beans, nuts, and dairy products. Additionally, it is important to stay hydrated before, during, and after donating plasma, so be sure to drink plenty of water.
Donating plasma after Covid-19
Donating plasma after having COVID-19 is important for helping others who are currently fighting against the virus. Plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19 is rich in antibodies, and transfusions from these donors may help those who are seriously ill. However, whether or not one can donate plasma after having COVID-19 depends on the individual’s health, the guidelines of the donation center, and the severity of the illness.
In general, most donation centers require at least 28 days after recovery from COVID-19 before a person can donate plasma. This is because it takes 28 days for the body to develop enough antibodies to be able to transfer them via plasma donation. Additionally, donation centers may also require a negative COVID-19 test before donation can take place.
If you have had COVID-19 and would like to donate plasma, contact your local donation center to learn more about their specific requirements.
