How to Donate Plasma in DC

Made up of only 8 percent proteins and antibodies, plasma is the liquid portion of your blood left over after red and white blood cells and platelets are removed from your blood. Plasma consists of 92 percent water. When you donate plasma, your blood is separated from the plasma and returned to your body. Your plasma is then used to create medications that treat life-threatening blood disorders and diseases. Plasma also contains 500-plus proteins.

Instructions

• 1

  Check the eligibility requirements for donating plasma in Washington, D.C. You must be between 18 and 64, weigh no more than 250 lbs., and you must not be pregnant, the birth mother of a child younger than 6 months or have obtained piercings or tattoos in the previous 12 months.

• 2

  Make an appointment with your local D.C. plasma donation center to meet with the on-site physician to discuss your medical history and undergo a physical examination. Your blood is drawn and tested for any disease. If disease is found, you are not eligible to be a donor.

• 3

  Present the donation center with photo identification and proof of your citizenship, as you must be a U.S. citizen to donate plasma. Birth certificates, driver's license, passports, utility bills and naturalization certificates are just a few of the accepted methods of identification and citizenship.

• 4

  Donate your plasma. You'll spend roughly an hour to an hour and a half hooked to a Food and Drug Administration-approved machine that will separate your plasma from your blood. You are permitted, even encouraged, to bring something to entertain you while you donate, such as a book or music. Once you've completed the donation process, you will receive compensation for your donation. The amount varies based on your donation center's policies.