Donating plasma
By dorannmwin
@dorannmwin (36392)
United States
January 28, 2012 2:08pm CST
Like so many people in the world today, our family has been struggling at times to make ends meet. Because of that, I decided that I would donate plasma because they do pay an average of $50 a week if you are able to go in and donate twice a week.
When you first start donating, it takes about 4-5 hours to get through the process but after that each donation will only take 2-3 hours. The plasma that is taken from your body is used to make medications for burn victims, people with blood disorders and many other therapies as well.
Is donating plasma something that you've ever done? If you haven't ever done it, would you consider it as a way to make some extra money?
I do have to tell you that it really doesn't hurt to do it, you are hooked up with a needle for about an hour, but it is relatively painless. There are some times that something does go wrong with your vein and it will bruise, but they do go away quickly.
3 people like this
18 responses
@much2say (53958)
• Los Angeles, California
29 Jan 12
Wow! I've never even donated blood - but that's because I've always been under the weight requirement. I tried to see if there was a weight requirement for plasma donating, but couldn't find the info. Interesting about the pay! Oh gosh, I don't think I have that block of time during the day right now ... my oldest is in school but I still have my 2 year old who is just all over the place (I doubt they'd have a child watch at those donation centers?). But hmmm, something to consider when I do get the time!! Wish they could do it while I slept at night - ha ha!
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
29 Jan 12
The minimum weight to donate is 115 pounds at the center that I go to. Some of the places do have childcare available for parents while they are donating, but others don't. The one that I go to doesn't currently have childcare, but I typically get my sister to keep an eye on Paul while Kathryn is at school on Fridays and then on Sunday I will leave the kids at home with their dad for a little bit.
1 person likes this
@Meljep (1666)
• United States
29 Jan 12
I've recently thought about doing this, since we have several friends who have needed transfusions lately. After the plasma is taken, do they put the blood back in? Is the plasma only used for burn victims, or are other patients helped by this also?
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
29 Jan 12
There are actually a lot of different patients that are helped with various applications of plasma that has been donated. You are right that burn victims are helped by plasma. However, plasma based medications are also used to treat babies that have hemolytic disease (based on Rh factors), people with bleeding disorders and other medical problems as well.
1 person likes this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
29 Jan 12
I have not done this though I have thought about it. The only place I know of is in a not so good area and I'd have to figure out something to do with my kids as well. If I knew of some place locally that paid you a small sum to do it I would consider it as well
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
29 Jan 12
I actually just learned last week that the reason that the centers tend to be in areas that aren't really the best areas is because of the fact that the majority of the people that donate are lower income individuals. For me, I will either have my sister watch Paul while Kathryn is at school, or for right now my friend that was donating with me and her boyfriend had a vein blow so she is deferred for two months so she is watching Paul for me on Fridays and on Sundays I can leave the kids at home with their dad.
@marguicha (215441)
• Chile
28 Jan 12
I have never donated either plama nor blood. When I was young I had hepatitis A and someone told me I should no donate blood. The, many years later, another person told me it did not matter, but then I was too old. In my country, as far as I know, you can only donate, not sell blood or plasma.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
29 Jan 12
I suppose that is something that is different in different parts of the world. I do, however, know that you aren't allowed to donate whole blood or plasma if you've ever had Hepatitis.
@macdingolinger (10386)
• United States
28 Jan 12
When I was married we used to both go donate. I believe we got $20 each when we would go. I can't believe that from 1990 to now it's only gone up about $5. That doesn't seem right! My problem was that I got very ill every time I sold my plasma. It was pretty good money and I used to take a book to read. It was more like a break for me since I had two young children!
My trouble was the getting sick part! I actually have a center just a short distance from my house and have considered doing it again, but haven't because I don't have time to be ill!
My trouble was the getting sick part! I actually have a center just a short distance from my house and have considered doing it again, but haven't because I don't have time to be ill!1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
29 Jan 12
I've had a couple of times that I will get pretty lightheaded afterward, but I've found that the main reason for me that this happens is because of the fact that I hadn't drank enough on the day prior to my donation.
I think that the reason that they aren't paying higher right now is because of the fact that there is a higher supply than there typically is because of the recession that we've been experiencing.
@varier (5685)
• Indonesia
28 Jan 12
Donating plasma.. It's similar with donating blood, right?
Ever done that, but never consider it as a way to make extra money. It's purely for donation, charity, and good deed. And in fact I never heard about the payment after someone donate his blood here in my country.. Usually the "payment" is just a simple dishes and bunch of "thank you" 
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
29 Jan 12
It is similar to donating whole blood, but at the same time it is very different.
They take the whole blood out of your arm and then centrifuge it to separate the red blood cells from the water based plasma. The plasma is collected in a bottle and the red blood cells are returned to your body.
The plasma is used for many medical applications and that is the reason that they are able to pay you for it.
@shaggin (71666)
• United States
29 Jan 12
Its a nice thing to do to donate plasma and its awesome that you can be paid for it. My husband thought about doing it years ago when his friend did it but he never did. His friend told him that after donating for the next few days he felt sick and weak. I guess thats normal because it takes quite a bit of blood out of you. Its more then just when you donate blood because they need a lot of blood to get a little plasma. Its awesome that you are doing this and earning a little bit of money for it. I am phobic of having blood drawn. Just having a small vial of blood drawn which only takes a few seconds I nearly have a panic attack and feel like I'm going to faint. I sweat terribly and shake. I just couldnt donate blood or plasma I'm to scared. My mother always said after having a baby ivs and having blood drawn is nothing but lol shes wrong I'm still terrified of them after giving birth to two kids.
@shaggin (71666)
• United States
30 Jan 12
Until you wrote that to me I had completely forgotten that they do put the blood back into you after the plasma has been removed. Thanks for telling me again so hopefully I will remember it this time. I am surprised by what you said about how long it takes I would have assumed it would only take a few minutes so that is interesting to me. Anyway that what I remember is my husbands friend stopped going and donating plasma because he felt sick and weak afterwards for a few days. He was a very thin guy I dont know if that has anything to do with it. For the first time in my life I actually weigh right around the amount that I weigh enough to donate blood and I still cant get over my phobia so I know I will never donate.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
30 Jan 12
It could be that it does have something to do with your husband's friend's size. For me, there have been a couple of times that I will not feel well afterwards, but most of the time this isn't an issue for me.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
29 Jan 12
I've been lucky in that I've never had a fear of blood or needles, I do think that working at a hospital when I was younger and also because of being a biology/pre-med major when I was in college.
That said, one of the most common misconceptions of donating plasma is that they actually don't keep your blood, you get the cells back but, it doesn't have the water based plasma in it anymore.
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
28 Jan 12
I used to do it in the 80's when we was waiting for my third husbands disability to go through. i had 4 kids and we only had welfare to live on and it just didnt stretch. i didnt like the idea at first but found out i could do it. my oldest daughter remembers when she needed tennis shoes for gym and i went there for the money. they took it out of one arm and couldnt get the return blood back in. they said i had a choice, either dont come back for 1 month or have them poke the other arm. so i had them poke the other arm.
and finish it. i had bruises all up my first arm that next day, but thats a mother for you
and finish it. i had bruises all up my first arm that next day, but thats a mother for you@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
29 Jan 12
I had problems with mine on Friday and so right now both of my arms are bruised and I wasn't able to go in today to donate. But, I guess that is okay because I did get to get my income taxes filed, so I should be able to pay off one of our big bills in the next month or so. That will be a huge relief.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
31 Jan 12
I haven't done it.
But if it's just like donating blood, then I would do it, as I have donated blood before. It'll be nice to know that it's helping some people.
I've never done it for money though. I remember there was a cake,a juice box, and a cot where we could take a short nap if we felt weak afterwards during working hours. It was great!
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Feb 12
It is similar to donating blood, but it takes longer because they centrifuge the blood to separate the plasma from the blood cells and then return the blood cells to your body.
However, I do think that it is a great thing to do because it tends to help not just other people, but yourself as well.
@RitterSport (2451)
• Lippstadt, Germany
30 Jan 12
have donated blood several times but not plasma yet. It really takes a lot of time but I think I should consider trying. Soon we will have a blood donor pass which is valid all over the country so I wait till I get that and then see from there.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Feb 12
When I was younger I used to donate blood on a regular basis, but it was something that I actually had a hard time with because of the fact that I would get really lightheaded after the fact. With plasma I don't find this to be the case at all and I like the added bonus of having extra money.
@RitterSport (2451)
• Lippstadt, Germany
2 Feb 12
I am glad I am not getting light headed after donating in fact I feel better than I felt before and its the same discussion with these nice people all the time about sitting for 10 minutes right after donating cause I feel so strong and super well.....
@stringer321 (5643)
• Kiryat Ata, Israel
12 Feb 12
I didn't hear about donating plasma but I donated blood twice so far and at the first time I even passed out (maybe I needed to drink while donating the blood).
My blood pressure was a little low...
Well , I didn't hear about donating blood for money but we get a piece of cake and some water...I hope my blood saved someone.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
4 Sep 12
When I was younger I donated blood once every six weeks, the maximum that a person was allowed to donate whole blood. The reason that I did that was because of the fact that I wanted to help as many people as possible. It isn't something that takes a lot of time, but overall, I feel very rewarded when I do something like that.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Sep 12
You know, that is something that I've never thought about. I don't think that it is possible here to find out if your blood has actually been used. I do believe that it has or at least part of my blood has been used because of the fact that there are so many different ways to use the blood, either whole or different parts of the blood.
@stringer321 (5643)
• Kiryat Ata, Israel
4 Sep 12
That's interesting , it's the second time someone answers my respond 7 months later.
Can you find out whether someone got your blood or not ? In my country it is possible to find out.
I mean , the blood can't stay usable forever , it has an expiration date. I am not sure how long the blood can wait before transference to someone else.
@kundanraj (660)
• India
28 Jan 12
I never heard of donating plasma. It is first ti,e i heard it from you. I just didn't get throught it what is plasma? How we can donate it? Why they pay a huge 50$ for donating it? Doesn't it cause sickness after donating it?
I had donated blood twice but never heard of donating of other kinds like this. If it not cause sickness i wil surely go for it as there is alot of money in it.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
29 Jan 12
Plasma is the water based part of our blood. They take whole blood out from your arm and run it through a centrifuge which separates the red blood cells from the plasma and collect the plasma in a bottle. The reason that they pay for these donations is because of the fact that the process of donating plasma takes longer than donating whole blood and it has a lot of medical applications.
@ShyBear88 (59282)
• Sterling, Virginia
31 Jan 12
I wish I could donate but I can't I didnt meet the requirements need to be. Donaating. My husband would do it and has though about it but we just don't haw the time to go down and do it. My husbands dad and some of his friends go down every couple of weeks and does it for free I think on his lunch break but he is able to take the time off and my husband isn't.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Feb 12
For the first time that you do it, there is absolutely no way that you would be able to get in and out during a lunch break. After that, if you have a job with a somewhat flexible schedule, you would possibly be able to donate during lunch break. However, I do tend to observe that most people will either go in and donate first thing in the morning or after they get off of work.
@ShyBear88 (59282)
• Sterling, Virginia
3 Feb 12
I don't think you read what I said. I can't dontate at all I don't meet the requirements to be able to. One I'm under weight, two I'm pregnant and three recentaly hand a piercing and tattoo so you can't donate 6 months to a year. Also I don't work I'm a stay at home mom and I don't have the car my husband does and he can't donate because he can leave work on his lunch break or else he could lose his job. He isn't full time yet since he had to miss work a lot for being sick and having to have a surgery.
@CookingIsMyPassion (653)
• United States
2 Feb 12
Never sold my blood for money. I have gone voluntarily to donate blood before.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Feb 12
I actually consider myself to be quite lucky that I am able to do that here. It helps our family out and it helps other people as well, so it feels really good to do it.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
29 Jan 12
The thing that I really like about donating plasma is that I'm able to do good not just for myself, but for other people as well. The money that I've been able to get doing it for this past month has gotten new shoes for the children and myself and has also ensured that I haven't had to stress nearly as much about money as I had been doing. Our family is seriously in a situation where every little bit really does count.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Feb 12
That's really a shame, it has helped us out a lot that I've been able to make a little bit of extra money donating during these tough times for our family.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
29 Jan 12
I normally don't have a bad problem with bruising, thankfully. The thing that has been getting me here recently is the fact that my pulse has been running high and I really attribute a lot of that to the stress that I've been going through in my life.
