Donating Plasma

Hawkeye OG

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Looking for some peoples experiences with donating plasma. A local company is offering $250 for new donors and then $50 for each donation after that. I've always donated blood in the past through work, they make it easy, but being the penny pincher and money hoarder that I am I figure why not capitalize on my donations and make a few extra bucks and help some people out in the process. Anyone have any experience and if they would recommend it?
 

winos5

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I did it off and on from 1985-1992. I was single, young, junior enlisted USAF (poor as shit). Gave me some spending money at times when I didn't have much. In retrospect I probably would have been better off by moonlighting at a part time job. You do meet some interesting people at the plasma donation center though.
 

Hawkeye OG

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I did it off and on from 1985-1992. I was single, young, junior enlisted USAF (poor as shit). Gave me some spending money at times when I didn't have much. In retrospect I probably would have been better off by moonlighting at a part time job. You do meet some interesting people at the plasma donation center though.

Any negative side effects?
 

Tater

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$250?!?!? That's pretty good dough.
 
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number51

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In 1994 a woman I worked with had a very sick kid. Both are kids were born in 1991 so we always talked about our children. When her daughter fell ill she asked me my blood type and it turned out to be the same as her kid, plus this was at the time everyone was super aware of aids infected blood supply, my fashion sense made it pretty obvious I was straight, so she asked me to donate plasma.

I would go to the old Children's Memorial Hospital (now Lurie Children's Hospital) into a basement that looked like a cross between a submarine (pipes everywhere), and a mad scientists lab. It was noisy and a just a messed up place in general, I asked, and they said that kids never go down there, which was a good idea.

It was like giving blood except the blood went into a machine instead of a bag. It also took longer, like 30+ minutes if I recall correctly.

Her daughter got better and I took full credit for having the best plasma, ask anybody.
 

winos5

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Any negative side effects?

You might feel tired for a few hours, particularly if you donate frequently, just eat a good meal and drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids, and it goes away quickly. They check to make sure you aren't becoming anemic every time you donate. Only other side effect was the venipuncture with a large needle (18 or 16 gauge if I recall correctly).
 

Crystallas

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Looking for some peoples experiences with donating plasma. A local company is offering $250 for new donors and then $50 for each donation after that. I've always donated blood in the past through work, they make it easy, but being the penny pincher and money hoarder that I am I figure why not capitalize on my donations and make a few extra bucks and help some people out in the process. Anyone have any experience and if they would recommend it?

Selling plasma. Donating is different.

I've donated plasma. It's not like donating blood, where you just get pricked, drawn and a cotton ball (cookie if you're lucky). It takes about 1-2 hours to filter the plasma, so plan for that, but pretty much the same experience with a bigger needle.
 

number51

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Selling plasma. Donating is different.

I've donated plasma. It's not like donating blood, where you just get pricked, drawn and a cotton ball (cookie if you're lucky). It takes about 1-2 hours to filter the plasma, so plan for that, but pretty much the same experience with a bigger needle.

2 hours? My old man memory was way off.

Does plasma cure Alzheimer's, because there is a 25 year old person out there that owes me some.
 

SERE Bear

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I did it off and on from 1985-1992. I was single, young, junior enlisted USAF (poor as shit). Gave me some spending money at times when I didn't have much. In retrospect I probably would have been better off by moonlighting at a part time job. You do meet some interesting people at the plasma donation center though.


Same, I was an E-2 and did it twice a week for 6months. Worst part is the damn finger prick they do prior each time.


Any negative side effects?


Cold ass saline running back into your arm between each cycle. Scars are still on my arms 25 years later.
 

Hawkeye OG

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Selling plasma. Donating is different.

I've donated plasma. It's not like donating blood, where you just get pricked, drawn and a cotton ball (cookie if you're lucky). It takes about 1-2 hours to filter the plasma, so plan for that, but pretty much the same experience with a bigger needle.

Yeah, the wife wasn't thrilled with the idea of "selling" plasma. I guess I'll just stick with donating blood. I'm all about making a quick buck.
 

Crystallas

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I don't fault anyone for selling blood or plasma. The reason why labs and hospitals pay money for these things, is due to demand. And if there is no incentive, then less people actually donate, which means more people die. Seems silly to hate on such a practice. Your profit seeking motive still helps someone in the end.

Go, sell it. The only real bother to you is the 1-2 hours and small chance of having a permanent scar.
 

R_Mac_1

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I did it back in my college days (mid 2000s). IIRC we got paid something like 25 bucks for the first donation, and 30 to 40 for the 2nd in the same week. This was based on weight, though because the heavier you are the more you can donate. I still have a scar on the bend of my left elbow.

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