Donating plasma for money

I'm of the mindset that if there is a demand for it enough so that you can make some $$, and you NEED the money, by all means do it.

I'm going a little off topic here but just wanted to brag about my husband.  Back when we were engaged and living in Seattle, the HS right next door to us was having a bone marrow drive for a local student with leukemia.  We both rushed over and gave blood so that we would be on the BM registry.  About 2 years later, Ted got a notice that he was a potential match for a patient.  He had to have many blood tests that further found out that he was indeed a GREAT match.  He then donated stem cells that were picked up and flown to the recipient.  (He didn't get paid BTW)

About 5 months after that we received a notification that the family wanted to send up something.  Turns out that the patient who got the cells, lived for a few short months, then his liver failed due to all the chemo.  We met the family in Disneyland and they said that he felt so much better, even for that short time because of what Ted did.  I'm so stinkin' proud of him to this day!  

So what I'm getting at is, even if it doesn't "save a life", it may help someone temporarily and that is something to feel good about.  

Jenny

In college my friend worked at the plasma place as a phlebotomist.  I think you could make appointments, but there was a certain number of times you could donate per month and there where always homeless people waiting in line. 
 
I'm not sure what the requirments are, but I know they do test your blood.  It takes quite a while since they pump your blood out then back in I think.
 
I'm sure you could make a few extra bucks, but unless you wanted to spend all your free time in the clinic I don't think you would be able to make quite that much.

From what i've heard donating plasma can knock you off your feet a bit, I don't think you can do it every month I *think* it's every 3 months.
I believe it is a bit painfull as well...personally I think it's *better* to do it out of the goodness of your heart but if your family is really struggling and you really do need the money (which I believe you do) I don't see harm in earning a little bit of extra $.

Oh no Tracey  I'm so sorry to read about J's hours

I think donating plasma for money is fair since it's rather debilitating.  There is nothing like that up here tho.

HUGS

We had a friend that "donated" every three weeks. I think that you *may* be able to do it every 2 weeks, but I'd check with your local bank. I think every 2 weeks would make you ill!

They are giving money for plasma for a reason...they need it. So if it helps your family financially, do it. Times are tough, and although it may be more "honorable" for you to just donate out of the goodness of your heart, you shouldn't feel bad about taking the money for it. Our family has concidered it but with me being fertile mertile there was no way for my body to physically handle it between the nursing DS1  and now the pregnancy.

There are a lot worse things you could be doing for money!!!!

If I needed the money I'd do it. I see nothing wrong with that.  It will benefit someone else so I see no reason not to. 

I won't give blood normally because I had a horrible experience the one time I did try and I don't have good luck trying to get blood drawn anyway.  So I have no idea what the requirements are.

No, I don't think it's 'wrong'.  They're obviously offering money because they don't have enough stock of it, and if it helps people out who are having a hard time with the way things are, then by all means go for it.   Fact is you 'donate' blood anyhow, so it's not like you wouldn't do it if you weren't getting paid.
 
I used to donate blood, but they don't want it anymore - I'm excluded because i was born & lived in the UK in the 'mad cow' period.  If I could donate still, I would because I know how lifesaving blood & blood products are.
 
As far as what might exclude you from donating - I think it would be similar criteria to blood donation.  from a clinical point of view, I expect they will want probably also to check your albumen levels as well to make sure they are adequate for you to be healthy after you donate.  GL!

It's no more wrong than the surrogates who do it for the money. Which I think is perfectly acceptable, even though I was an expenses only surro myself.  I feel that it's compensation for the time and discomfort of the practice, not for the actual 'product' of the service, aka the blood or the baby. Have no shame. I hope it works out for you, I've never donated plasma so I have no idea what they test for or what the procedure is like. Sounds a little scary to me!

I received six units of blood after delivering judah. One was packed RBC. I consider those who donate my heroes.

Is there anything wrong with taking money? I guess not but I would neve ever take any money for it.

If you told me you were donating  to make money to go to, lets say- Disney, I might life a brow. But Tracey, your talking about making $ to help support your hose in these dire times. But then again, Disney might be a good idea too

you do have to pass a physical - they probably won't turn you away for being heavy set. In fact you will probably make more than some people because of it.

I donated plasma in college. It paid my bills and allowed me to continue to go to school without having to have a full time job - I did work for the catering company on campus, but I also took a full class load every semester and was very active on campus. 

I would take my class materials with me when I donated and used it as study time. I was very tiny at the time and only got paid 15-20 per time, my friend that was larger than me would produce more plasma and always got $25 per time. If I remember correctly we could do it up to two or  three times a week depending on the days we went in.  I did this for two years. I do have a small scar from where they always put the needle in but other than that no regrets

First and foremost- good for you for donating!!!!  The procedure is intense so the main incentive to give is to offer some money to those who give.  Its not as easy or as quick as giving blood! 
 
The only physical requirement is that you are in good health and over 110 pounds, do not have issues with needles, fainting spells, anxiety or heart problems.  Along with the obvious, drugs and diesease (HIV)!
 
If you've donated blood you are most likely good to donate plasma!  I am on my way to the 5 gallon club for blood and tried to donate plasma once, but there was an issue with my arm verus the needle- no cooperation. LOL  More people should donate blood and plasma!!!  No I don't think your wrong to do it for money - you need the money - people need the blood/plamsa - its a win win!!

The only experience that I have with donating plasma is that my brother and his friends used to donate in college, there was a blood center that paid money near campus, but it was in a bad neighborhood and they got mugged at gunpoint on their way back to their dorm from the donation center.  Apparently the muggers would wait and watch for people to come of the center, follow till they got them cornerned, because they knew they'd have a large amount of cash on them.
 
So make sure that you are going to a safe neighborhood!  Not all places give money, a lot of donation centers do not.  I think the shady neighborhoods are more likely to have ones that pay.
 
As fo the ethics of it, I suppose it's ok.  I guess you could say it's exploitive, by tempting people with money to endure an invasive medical procedure.  But I think it's your body and you can do what you want with it.  Just make sure that the place is clean, and leave if you get a weird vibe at all.

angelstorm wrote:No, I don't think it's 'wrong'.  They're obviously offering money because they don't have enough stock of it, and if it helps people out who are having a hard time with the way things are, then by all means go for it.   Fact is you 'donate' blood anyhow, so it's not like you wouldn't do it if you weren't getting paid.
 
I used to donate blood, but they don't want it anymore - I'm excluded because i was born & lived in the UK in the 'mad cow' period.  If I could donate still, I would because I know how lifesaving blood & blood products are.
 
As far as what might exclude you from donating - I think it would be similar criteria to blood donation.  from a clinical point of view, I expect they will want probably also to check your albumen levels as well to make sure they are adequate for you to be healthy after you donate.  GL!

 
Oh I forgot about the mad cow thing.  I was also born in the UK and lived there for too much time during the mad cow scare.  But our local blood bank has always accepted my blood for research purposes.  I recently found out that because of this I will not qualify to be an organ donor either.  The place we are going to try to donate plasma uses a certain percentage of it for research as well, so I am crossing my fingers that they dont turn me away.
Tracey

You know Tracey I almost died in laparoscopy surgery 4 years ago.  I needed 5 blood transfusions and 2 plasma.  I don't care if those people gave it or sold it, they saved my life.  There's nothing wrong with it.  You do what you have to to get by and if you save lives in the process all the better.  Good luck.
Becky

I haven't read replies yet, but I will.
 
When I lost my job, I was selling plasma.  OK--the plasma you "donate"--they pay your for your time.  They make money from selling plasma, so why shouldn't they pass it on to the "donors"?
 
They will do a physical.  They will NOT turn you down for being overweight.  Quite the opposite actually--you will make more money because they can pull more plasma from you.  (the amount they can take is based on your weight)  Your first trip will be LONG.  after the first one, when you just go back and only have to do the basic stuff and bleed--it should only take about an hour to bleed, and however long for them to check your iron and plasma levels.  Make sure you are drinking lots of water and eat before you go!!  Also, take a squishy to keep the blood flowing!!  GL!
 
ETA**  after reading replies, I wanted to add that you can donate plasma 2-3 times a week, depending on what company you go to.  The one I was going to only let me do it 2x a week.  I didn't have any problems with donating plasma.  It is just boring to sit there for an hour bleeding.  It wasn't overly painful or anything like that IMO.  I was not aware that there are places to donate plasma where you don't get paid (except maybe red cross)  Odd.  Anyway--super important to drink lots of water.  LOTS.  GL!

The local plasma donation center here offers pretty good money.  I think you can make up to $240 a month.
 
The first visit is the longest because they do tests and I think a physical.  After that it only takes an hour per session and here you can go twice a week.  I have thought about donating and having them pay people doesn't seem wrong to me.
 
-Kim

Lurker here

Donating plasma for money is not wrong, it will not go to a person... You cannot sell blood products that go to people.
The plasma you donate will be sold to companies that make reagents, quality control material, and other chemicals for laboratory testing.

I work in a hospital lab, and all our controls, calibrators, and pre transfusion testing reagents ( blood typing)  are made from "donated" plasma...

You can donate plasma every 48 hours, but most places make you wait 3 days, or  a max of 2 times a week.

RachieScarlett&Nick wrote:Donating plasma for money is not wrong, it will not go to a person... You cannot sell blood products that go to people.
The plasma you donate will be sold to companies that make reagents, quality control material, and other chemicals for laboratory testing.

Actually they are technically not paying for the blood product - they are paying for your time based on your weight