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Why Do People Make Plasma Donations?

Plasma is the liquid portion of a person's blood. It contains proteins and antibodies that are used to help the immune system ward off disease. Plasma is donated for therapeutic reasons and mostly collected and processed in government-regulated plasma collection centers. U.S. law requires that donors undergo a medical history review to determine their qualifications. Plasma donations are done for a variety of reasons.

  1. Public Service Obligation

    • Donating plasma can be done on behalf of a personal public service obligation. Certain companies and community outreach programs promote plasma donations, encouraging their employees or members to take part in helping others. Many individuals feel a sense of duty and obligation to help others and feel that donating plasma to those who can benefit from it is a rewarding experience.

    Medical Benefits

    • Plasma is used to treat conditions such as hemophilia, shock or trauma, immune deficiencies and other blood disorders. When donors give plasma, they make it available and ready for use to entire communities of populations. Plasma donations are stored at below-zero temperatures and shipped to facilities and hospitals where it can be processed and used.

    Global Benefits

    • According to the CSL Plasma website, plasma donations not only help those in the United States suffering from health conditions, but they save lives on a larger, global scale. Programs for plasma donations and plasma research are often underfunded in underdeveloped countries where people need it the most. Many people suffering from treatable conditions such as rabies, tetanus, hepatitis or immune and blood disorders perish because plasma-protein therapies and medications are not available in adequate amounts. According to CSL, without these donations, people of underdeveloped nations would "suffer needlessly with pain and disability."

    Compensation

    • A compensation incentive is another reason why some people donate plasma. Donating plasma is a relatively quick way to earn cash while helping others. The plasma-donating process can take one to two hours, making it a quick way to earn between $20 to $30 per visit. According to the Minnesota State University, Mankato, student newspaper, plasma donations are popular among college students.

    Reoccurrence

    • Donating plasma is a process that can be recurring. Individuals that find plasma donations rewarding have the advantage of deciding whether they will donate plasma for the short term or long term. The human body is capable of replacing plasma within the first 48 hours of the initial donation. However, it is strongly encouraged that participants consume a healthy diet with plenty of protein and stay hydrated before and after making a donation. The U.S. regulations allow for plasma volunteers to donate up to two times in a seven-day period. Volunteers must get a minimum of two days between donations before donating more plasma.

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