Sperm Bank Locations, Plasma Centers, Paid Sperm Donation, Donate Blood Paid, Paid Plasma Donation

Plasma Centers are facilities that specialize in collecting plasma from plasma donors. Plasma centers then provide the plasma they collect to pharmaceutical companies who will then use the plasma to make life-saving therapies used to treat many diseases. Plasma is used to help people suffering from disorders such as hemophilia and other blood clotting disorders such as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Plasma is also used to manufacture albumin used to treat burn victims. Various immune globulins can also only be made from human plasma including intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) used to treat patients suffering from life threatening paralysis as a result of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), Hepatitis B immune globulin used to treat patients exposed to the Hepatitis B virus and Tetnus immune globulin used to treat patients exposed to the bacteria that causes Tetnus (Clostridium Tetani) or lock jaw.  Plasma is also used to make Anti-D Immune Globulin, a treatment for pregnant women that are Rh Negative (have a negative blood type, i.e. A-, B-, AB- or O-) who may be pregnant with a child that is Rh Positive. If an Rh Negative pregnant women gives birth to an Rh Positive child, the newborn may die as a result of hemolytic disease of the newborn. However, administration of Anti-D Immune Globulin during her pregnancy will prevent hemolytic disease of the newborn. 

Statistics show that the worldwide demand for plasma is in excess of 20 million liters. The yearly amount collected through governmentally regulated plasma collection centers reaches approximately 11 million liters (which represents around 15 million individual donations). The remaining liters come from blood donations made in hospitals and blood banks. 

Plasma collection is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and plasma centers throughout the United States are audited by their respective state health agencies as well as federal agencies through the FDA. 
 

A plasma center will often provide monetary compensation to plasma donors for blood plasma donations made to its facility as payment for the time and effort necessary for such plasma donations. Most plasma centers collecting plasma donations pay donors between $20 and $40 per donation session for normal source plasma and up to $100 to specialty plasma donors involved in immunization donation programs. If you are planning to donate plasma for money, continue reading to learn about normal source plasma donors and specialty plasma donors involved in immunization programs. You will also learn what you can expect from the process of selling plasma at a plasma center as well as the requirements for normal source plasma donation and specialty immunization donation programs.  
 

Plasma is defined as the liquid part of blood, yellowish in color, and primarily comprised of dissolved proteins (ie. immune globulins), glucose, clotting factors, mineral ions, hormones and carbon dioxide. In fact, plasma is the main medium that transports the waste or excretory products in the blood. Plasma is used by the body to transport important substances like hormones, vitamins, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets throughout the body. Plasma makes up about 55% of the total blood volume.  
 

After you have located a plasma center near you at www.cashfordonating.com, it is important to be prepared for your first visit. Be sure to eat a well balanced meal in the hours before giving plasma. Eat iron-rich foods such as tuna, eggs, nuts, beans, and lean red meat to ensure your hematocrit levels are sufficient to donate plasma. Drink plenty of water to prevent dizziness and lightheadedness during and after plasma donation. Avoid alcohol and caffeine before your donation to reduce your chance of having a reaction during the donation process. Notify the plasma center staff if you have drank alcohol or caffeine prior to your donation.

After your donation is complete, pay attention to your activity level. Make sure you do not over exert yourself immediately after plasma donation. It is important to avoid drinking alcohol and caffeine for 72 hours after selling plasma and to hydrate your body with plenty of fluids and foods high in protein.

Generally accepted minimum requirements for giving plasma include weighing at least 110 pounds, being between 18 - 65 years old, being in generally good health and not engaging in high risk behavior. To donate plasma, you must not suffer from any blood-borne diseases such as AIDS, Hepatitis, blood clotting diseases and other disorders. 

Be sure to bring your Social Security Card and a valid picture ID to the plasma center during your scheduled donation appointment.

Before donating plasma, you will go through a few simple screening tests such as blood pressure, pulse, temperature and weight. You will also have your finger pricked for a small blood sample to obtain your hematocrit and total protein levels in your blood. Before selling plasma, you must also make the plasma donation center aware of any recent surgeries, current medications, or any medical problems you may have. It is important to be truthful with the center staff both for your safety and the safety of the products made from your plasma.

For example, you will not be able to donate plasma if you have engaged in certain high-risk behaviors, including but not limited to: 

• Intravenous use of any drug not prescribed by your doctor
• Taking money, drugs or other payment for sex since 1977
• Male to male sexual contact since 1977
• Tattoos, touch-ups or piercing in the past 12 months

For a full list of high-risk behaviors that will prevent you from donating, read this document. 

At your first donation, you will also receive a physical exam by a licensed physician or physician substitute. Physician substitutes are not licensed physicians but perform some of their roles and they are typically Physician Assistants, Registered Nurses, Emergency Medical Technicians or Paramedics, depending on the laws of the state where the plasma center is located. Once you have been qualified to donate plasma by the physician or physician substitute, you can begin your plasma donations two times a week with two days in between your donations so long as you are not deferred for any reason by the plasma center.

The paid plasma donation process is very similar to giving blood. It can take anywhere from 45 minutes to one hour. You will enter the plasmapheresis room and recline on a comfortable chair or bed. A plasma technician will locate a good vein, clean the area, insert a needle into your vein, connect you to the plasmapheresis machine and begin to draw your blood into the machine.  

Plasma centers isolate the plasm from blood by a process called plasmapheresis. During plasmapheresis, a needle will be placed in the donor’s vein and about 150 ml – 200 ml of blood will be drawn out from the donor’s body during the draw cycle. The blood will then be spun by a centrifuge and separated into its components: red blood cells and plasma. The red blood cells will be collected in a chamber and returned to the donor during the return cycle and the plasma will be collected in a bottle which will be disconnected from the machine at the end of the donation. The procedure will then repeat itself once again and the total number of draw cycles and return cycles will be dependent on the donor’s body weight and hydration status. There are approximately 8-10 draw and return cycles during the plasmapheresis procedure which will last approximately 45 minutes to one hour. Therefore, it is recommended that donors drink plenty of water prior to their donation and stay well hydrated. 

Once you are hooked up to the plasmapheresis machine, you are free to read, talk to the other donors in the room, or watch a video. Relax and the machine will do the work, extracting plasma from your blood. Once you are done, your plasma should be replenished within two days by staying well hydrated and eating well balanced meals. You will be paid at the end of your plasma donation usually between $20-$40 either by an immediate cash payment or a check.

Federal guidelines state that an individual plasma donor may donate plasma up to two times in any seven day period, with a minimum of two days in between donations. 

To locate plasma centers near you, please use the search function at www.cashfordonating.com. You may also learn more about donating plasma for cash on our Paid Plasma Donation page.