Why Should You Donate Plasma

There are many ways to change someone's life, but none comes close to saving a person's life. Donating plasma is one of those ways. Even better, you can be compensated for your time donating plasma at a collection center.

Today, we take you through 5 convincing reasons and how DoNotPay makes it easier to make your donation.

What is Blood Plasma?

In basic terms, plasma is the liquid part of blood. In fact, 55% of your blood is liquid, while the other 45% consists of white and red blood cells and platelets. Plasma comprises water (92%), other essential proteins (7%) like albumin, gamma globulin, and the anti-hemophilic factor. The final component of blood is mineral salts (1%).

When separated from the other blood components, it's light yellow. Plasma is rarely talked about, but it's a crucial component in our body and is responsible for:

Maintaining blood pressure and volume
Maintaining a proper pH balance to support cell function
Supplying essential proteins which help in blood clotting and immunity
Carrying sodium and potassium to our muscles
Transporting cell waste

Why Should You Donate Plasma?

Now that you know how vital plasma is to the human body,

1. Your donation can save a life.

Perhaps the most convincing reason is that a plasma donation can save someone's life. People experience injuries and conditions that require plasma transfusions for survival each year. Your donation can go a long way in helping these people recover and have a second chance at life. Your plasma donation can help:

Trauma, burn and shock victims.
Patients with severe liver disease
Patients with multiple clotting factor deficiencies

When patients receive a plasma donation, it boosts their blood volume, which is crucial in preventing shock. It also helps with blood clotting during injuries.

2. It helps create treatment for people with blood conditions.

A plasma donation from you can also save more than one patient. How so? Pharmaceutical companies use plasma to make treatment for immune deficiencies and blood clotting conditions. Doctors then use these treatments to treat thousands of patients with Immune deficiencies and blood-related conditions.

However, for a donation to be impactful in creating treatment, collectors, and pharma companies advise you to donate at least a second time.

3. It's safe.

If all the eligibility requirements are checked, donating plasma is safe and not a complicated process. You might experience side effects like fatigue and dehydration, but these can quickly be resolved by rest and drinking plenty of clear fluids before the donation.

You will also have gone through a rigorous screening and physical exam to ensure that it's safe for you to donate plasma.

4. It's urgent.

The Covid pandemic resulted in a lot of unpleasant things. One of them is reduced plasma donation and collection. This has now presented a deficit in the needed plasma and available plasma. When you consider that pharmaceuticals require 130 to 1,300 donations to make a treatment for a single patient, for one-year treatment, it's easy to see why donation is crucial.

5. You get compensated.

What's better than saving a life and making extra cash on the side? With most plasma collectors, you get compensated for donating plasma. The money is more of a compensation for the time you use rather than the plasma itself.

Plasma Donor Eligibility Requirements

You need to fulfill certain requirements before donating plasma, although this will depend on the donation location. However, the conditions below usually cut across the board in most donation centers. You should

Be 18+ years
Weigh 110 lbs or more
Have proof of identity and home address
Take and pass a basic physical exam
Pass a health screen, blood test, and viral test
Have stable blood pressure and iron levels

According to RedCross, if you are type AB, your plasma donation will make a significant difference. Why is that? Plasma donation from people in the AB blood group is safe for all blood groups. In other words, it's the only blood group with a universal plasma.

How Much Do You Get Paid for a Plasma Donation?

The compensation for plasma donation will depend on your location and weight. However, the pay can range between $50 to $75 per donation. The first bonus payment is usually the highest. For instance, CSL, one of the largest plasma donation collectors, says a donor can make up to $1,100 in their first month of donation.

That said, most plasma collectors have varied payments based on weight and location. You'll need to contact the centers to determine how much each center compensates.

Where Should I Donate Plasma?

The location you choose for plasma donation will depend on several factors. You want a center that's close to your home if you plan to be making frequent donations. You also want to compare the compensation to see which one offers the best. Finally, ensure that you check all requirements of the center you choose.

Here are 3 popular plasma collection centers to consider.

CSL Plasma	CSL Plasma has more than 300+ locations in the US, China, and Europe. They have centers in most states, including California, Georgia, New Jersey, etc. In total, they have 41 donation centers spread across the US.
Biolife Plasma	Biolife Plasma is also a reputable plasma collector. They have 30+ donation centers in the US, so finding a center in your city is not hard.
BPL Plasma	BPL Plasma is a relatively newer collector, but they are quickly gaining foot. They currently have centers in 9 states. You can check whether they have a center near you on this page.

How to Donate Plasma on Your Own

Your first donation is usually more hectic because there are so many centers to compare and forms to fill in.

Before donation, you need to contact the donation center to confirm eligibility and compensation details.
You can begin the plasma donation process. Most collection centers will ask you to bring proof of identity, residency, and social security number. Next, medical personnel at the center will ask you some basic health questions and review your health history.
You will have to undergo a basic physical exam and viral screening to ensure it's safe for you to donate plasma. After that, you may start the donation process and finally receive compensation. Most donation centers compensate you with a reloadable prepaid card that you can start using immediately.

If there are many donation centers in your city, choosing the right one for you may be challenging. After all, comparing the details can take time, especially if you have to wait in a busy center.

This is where DoNotPay comes in to simplify matters.

What if You Can't Find the Right Center to Donate Plasma on Your Own?

DoNotPay is always here to help! Our goal is to simplify the complex things in your life so you can save time and keep your sanity. So how exactly does DoNotPay help you donate plasma?

With our Clinical Trial Product, you can find the best plasma collection center near you. We'll also help you know the eligibility requirements and the donation process of each center, so you won't have to call multiple centers to get this information. And if you have any questions, we help you contact the centers with your queries and ensure that they get back to you promptly.

Here's how you can use DoNotPay to become a plasma donor:

Search "plasma donations" on DoNotPay and find the nearest donation clinic through our clinical trials product.
Select the "Contact Now" button to learn more about eligibility criteria, contact the clinic with questions, or sign up for first-time donor bonuses.
Verify your information and submit your inquiry! DoNotPay will contact the clinic on your behalf and make sure your questions get answered.

In short, with DoNotPay, you can skip phone calls, long hold-times, and in-person visits to know the requirements, process, or compensation of the donation center of your choice.