How to Donate Plasma in Chicago

Donating blood plasma is a process in which a person's white blood cells are collected and used for various purposes, and the donor is paid for his time and donation. Unlike the nonprofit American Red Cross, the blood plasma industry collects the plasma for paid purposes, research by pharmaceutical companies, drug companies that use the plasma for patients with blood disorders, or manufacture of certain drugs. Because these things are profitable, the donor can be paid for his time and plasma if he is healthy.

Things You'll Need

• Social Security card or acceptable ID and proof of address
• Minimum weight of 110 pounds
• 18 years of age or older

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Instructions

• 1

  Contact the plasma center in the Chicago area that you prefer to use. There are several listings for plasma donation centers spread around the greater Chicago area; the links to these listings are in the resources section. Discuss the hours they are open, the time you should arrive and the specific requirements for what to bring with you, such as ID and what forms they prefer as proof of address.

• 2

  Prepare to spend several hours on your first visit. Arrive at the location before it opens if this is your first donation, as often people line up well ahead of time to make sure they are accepted before the appointments are full for the day. In Chicago there are about six to eight paying donation centers, so the ratio of centers to the number of people who want to donate means they are relatively busy.

• 3

  Eat a good meal that is not high in fatty foods within two hours of donating. Drink plenty of caffeine-free liquids -- water is best. Do not donate within 24 hours of drinking alcohol.

• 4

  Relax and expect to be in the chair for up to an hour and a half while the plasmapheresis process goes on. The blood is taken intravenously, the white and red blood cells separated in a centrifuge, then the red blood cells are returned to your body through the IV. You can read, listen to music or engage in any other quiet activity you can do while sitting during the process.

• 5

  After collecting your payment, discuss how often you can return to the center for donations. Most centers accept donors no more than twice a week. Make an appointment to return to your donation center in Chicago if it is possible to have a set appointment time. Drink plenty of fluids in the next few hours after the donation.