Categories: BUSINESS & FINANCE

Donating Plasma as a Part Time Job

I’m a college student in Springfield, Mo. Like most college students I am always low on money. So I ran into this place down town called BIOLIFE Donation Center. I actually finally went through the process of donating plasma. So here’s my review on this subject;

First of all, in order to donate Plasma you have to go through an application process. This process is pretty simple, the only downfall is it takes a good amount of time. You come into the building, you sign in on a sheet of paper. Then you’re called up to the counter in 10 minutes if your lucky. They have a system that you will go through. They take down your information. Along with this you have to provide 2 forms of id (usually a License, and social security card). Then you will scan your fingerprint into this system. Eventually that will be your way to check in if you continue donating. After that, they scan your picture and enter you into their computer system.

Then you are told to sit down and wait for a nurse to give you a physical. No, this isn’t the same physical you get at your normal doctors office. Then you deal with a series of questions. Mainly they’re such things as: Do you have aids? Have you been in jail for more than 72 hours? Have you had a tattoo or piercing within the last 12 months? Then you have to take a urinary test. They say its to test for the amount of water in your system, but if you know anything about plasma. Plasma is made up of 92% water, which means that your body at all times has to have at least 5 gallons of water in its’ system at all times. I personally would say it’s a good bet that you’re being tested for drugs along with iron.

After this you’re then sent back into the waiting room. Usually for about another 10 minutes, that is if you were approved to donate. Then after your wait they call you into a little room. 1, 2, 3, or 4. They will have you step on a scale. This is so that they know how much plasma you can give. Then they will check your blood pressure and pulse. If your blood pressure is too high, you’ll be turned away for the week. If your pulse is too high then you will be given a 10 minute period to lower it. You’ll sit in the waiting room and the nurse will check your pulse afterwards. She’ll either approve or deny you to donate. However, if you don’t have to go through either of these, they will then have you stick your finger out, and they’ll prick it with a needle in order to test your blood. 99% of the time you’ll be approved after the blood test.

After this they’ll tell you go to a bed. You’ll be hooked up to a machine and you spend about and 10 minutes on a machine. While you’re donating its pretty boring. During the process. What happens is they draw blood out of you, it goes into the machine and they separate the plasma out of the blood, then they put the blood back into your system while they deposit the plasma into a bag. It’s actually pretty simple. It’s pretty boring. I think the whole process your very first time takes about two and a half hours. Usually the normal process after you become a continual donor takes about an hour and a half.

A few tips for you though; Bring a book. You’ll spend a lot of the time reading it. If you aren’t a reader, bring an mp3 player. You’ll want something to do while you’re there, because when you’re on the machine it seems a lot longer than it actually is. Other than that, make sure you’re drinking a lot of water. Yes you’re body has a lot of water in its system, but by the time their done they’ve just taken out a good half gallon out of your system. You’re body can’t handle that so well if you’re not hydrated well. My very first time I had a reaction and got dizzy. I threw up a little, and they pumped saleen into my blood. It’s okay if you have a reaction to it. If they put a needle into your arm, they have to pay you. No matter how little you actually donate. Just keep in mind, if you have a few reactions, they will probably turn you away after a few times if you can’t donate you’re quota.

Here’s a few things to think about. You can go 2 times in 7 days. You first two times donating you get 40 dollars each time. After that you get 25 dollars the first time you donate, and 35 the second time within the week. Those donations have to be at least 28 hours apart though. So keep that in mind. If you go 2 times a week you’re making 60 dollars a week. If you do it all year, thats 52 weeks. Simple math; 60 dollars a week x 52 weeks is 3,120 dollars a year. It’s easy money and it is actually pretty simple if you can spare an 4 hours out of the week.