Learn about the potential benefits and risks of donating plasma
Donating plasma can improve the life of the donor and save the life of the recipient.
Plasma is valuable and not considered a critical treatment option for many chronic conditions. Each donation is meticulously monitored by skilled personnel during the operation.
Your health is not jeopardized by the amount of plasma taken, and your body replenishes it within 24 hours. In fact, there may be some health benefits to donating plasma.
What is plasma donation vs. whole blood donation?
Plasma donation, also known as plasmapheresis, is a procedure in which plasma, a liquid component of blood, is donated. Plasma is often used to treat liver disorders, burns, blood infections, and other diseases.
Plasma donation differs from whole blood donation, in that plasma is the liquid component of blood that includes the components required for coagulation. Therefore, plasma donation is a more complex process since it requires separating plasma from blood and reinserting the leftover blood components into your arm.
4 benefits of donating plasma
1. Opportunity for a mini-checkup
Before you can donate blood or plasma, you must first go through a series of physical exams that check your temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and hemoglobin levels.
After your blood is drawn, it is transported to a lab to be tested for infectious illnesses such as HIV and West Nile virus. You will be alerted quickly if anything comes back positive.
Rigid screening informs the donors of their present health state and alerts them regarding any early indicators of sickness.
2. Allows your blood to refresh
According to scientific studies, regular plasma and even whole blood donation provide health benefits for the donor. Donating plasma or whole blood renews the circulatory system, allowing the body to create a fresh supply of blood.
3. Boosts mood
Knowing that you are helping others can have a significant positive impact on your mental health. Many individuals find it more satisfying and meaningful to donate a portion of themselves to others.
4. Financialgain
Plasma donors get a compensatory fee for each extraction or donation. For many contributors, the money can go a long way toward covering food, rent, medication, and other necessities.
Payment is based on the amount of time it takes to donate the plasma, among other factors. This is because the amount of plasma a person can contribute is determined by their body weight, and the heavier the donor, the more plasma that is collected and the longer the extraction process. Each plasma collection center determines its own reimbursem*nt rates.
What are the potential drawbacks of donating plasma?
If you want to donate plasma, you must go through a thorough screening procedure as part of the plasma donation process. The screening method exists in part to protect people receiving donations, many of whom are in poor health. It also assures that the donors are in excellent enough physical health to prevent the adverse effects of plasma donation. This entire process may be uncomfortable for some donors.
Other potential side effects of plasma donation include:
- Dehydration
- Vein damage
- Calcium level depletion in the body
- Fatigue
- Nausea and sleepiness
- Fainting episodes
- Collapse for several hours
- Serious side effects that would require hospitalization to guarantee recovery
- Increased risk of infection
- Uncomfortable process of donation due to improper handling in some settings
- Long lines at the plasma centers, crowded areas, and long waiting time
- Long extraction time (can take about 45 to 60 minutes)
Knowing the possible risks of donating plasma may be helpful for a donor to complete the entire procedure safely and in an ethical manner.
Health News
- Drug-Linked Infant Deaths Doubled in U.S. in 4 Years
- CDC Supports Use of Antibiotic as 'Morning After Pill' to Stop STDs
- Too Many Teens Are Driving Drowsy
- Gene Therapy in Both Ears Restores Hearing to Babies Born Deaf
- AI Plus Mammograms Might Boost Breast Cancer Detection
- More Health News »
Medically Reviewed on 9/20/2022
References
Image Source: iStock images
Give Plasma: https://www.hhs.gov/oidp/topics/blood-tissue-safety/giving-plasma/index.html#:
Plasma: https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-plasma
What is Plasma? https://www.donatingplasma.org/donation/what-is-plasma
Top Is Donating Plasma Good for Your Body Related Articles
- Guide to Blood DonationInterested in giving blood? Your donation is needed more urgently than ever right now. Here’s what to know before you give.
- Can You Live a Normal Life After Donating a Kidney?Kidney donor surgery is considered a very low-risk surgery with few major complications. People who have donated a kidney can lead active and full lives.
- cryoprecipitateCryoprecipitate is a blood product containing specialized insoluble blood proteins known as coagulation factors that regulate the clotting and clot-dissolving processes. Cryoprecipitate is obtained from plasma, the fluid component of blood, and is used to treat patients with blood clotting (coagulation) disorders and to control hemorrhage during major surgery or during and after childbirth. Common side effects of cryoprecipitate include transfusion-related complications, allergic reactions, and post-transfusion bruising (purpura).
- dextranDextran is a prescription medication used to treat hypovolemia (decreased volume of circulatory plasma blood) resulting from surgery, trauma, severe burns, or other causes of bleeding. Dextran may be used alone or with other medications. Common side effects of dextran include mild itching, rash,body aches, numbness or tingly feeling, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, mild dizziness,weakness, low fever, and brown discoloration of your skin. Do not take if breastfeeding.
- factor VIIIFactor VIII, human plasma-derived is a specialized protein in blood that plays a role in the clotting (coagulation) process. Human plasma-derived factor VIII is used to maintain the necessary levels of the particular factor in individuals with hemophilia A, a hereditary bleeding disorder caused by deficiency in factor VIII. Common side effects of factor VIII, human plasma-derived include increased factor VIII inhibitors, stinging at the injection site, inflammation at the injection site, chest tightness, headache, fever, chills, lethargy, blurred vision, taste disorder (dysgeusia), and hypersensitivity reactions.
- fresh frozen plasmaFresh frozen plasma is administered as an intravenous transfusion based on ABO blood group compatibility. The uses of fresh frozen plasma include managing and preventing bleeding, replacement of coagulation factors, and plasma exchange in adults with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Common side effects of fresh frozen plasma include transfusion-transmitted infections and septic reactions, hemolytic transfusion reactions that destroy red blood cells, feverish (febrile) non-hemolytic reactions, transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI), transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD), transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO), and allergic reactions.
- Blood Type: How Your Blood Type Can Affect Your HealthDoes your blood type play a role in your risk for disease? Find out how it fares in the face of certain conditions.
- irradiated blood and componentsIrradiated blood and blood components are cellular blood products that have been subjected to radiation with gamma rays or X-rays. Irradiated blood and components are used for transfusion in patients at risk for transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD). Common side effects of irradiated blood and components include hemolytic transfusion reactions that destroy red blood cells, feverish (febrile) non-hemolytic reactions, transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI), transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO), allergic reactions, and others.
- plasma protein fractionPlasma protein fraction is a blood product used for the treatment of shock and low blood volume (hypovolemia) from plasma fluid loss due to burns, crushing injuries, abdominal emergencies, or any other cause where there is a significant loss of plasma fluids and not red blood cells. It is also used as an emergency treatment of shock due to hemorrhage, which may be followed by blood transfusion if required. Common side effects of plasma protein fraction include nausea, vomiting, excessive salivation, headache, back pain, chills, fever, redness of skin (erythema), hives (urticaria), severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), flushing, fluid in lungs (pulmonary edema), shortness of breath (dyspnea), low blood pressure (hypotension), and rapid heart rate (tachycardia).
- siltuximabSiltuximab is an anticancer (antineoplastic) medication administered as an intravenous infusion to treat adults with multicentric Castleman disease (MCD), a rare disorder that affects the lymphatic system. Siltuximab is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits the activity of interleukin-6 (IL-6), an inflammatory protein (cytokine) that is believed to play a major role in MCD. Common side effects of siltuximab include rash, itching (pruritus), eczema, skin hyperpigmentation, dry skin, psoriasis, swelling from fluid retention (edema), upper respiratory tract infection, lower respiratory infection, nose and throat inflammation (nasopharyngitis), rash, itching (pruritus), eczema, skin hyperpigmentation, dry skin, psoriasis, swelling from fluid retention (edema), upper respiratory tract infection, lower respiratory infection, nose and throat inflammation (nasopharyngitis), and others.
- tetrastarchTetrastarch is a type of starch solution administered intravenously to treat and prevent excessively low blood volume (hypovolemia) due to severe blood loss from trauma, surgery or other reasons in children and adults. Tetrastarch is used as a substitute for plasma. Common side effects of tetrastarch include itching (pruritus), skin rash, increase in serum amylase, low red blood cell count (anemia), decrease in clotting (coagulation) factors, increase in coagulation time, prolonged prothrombin time, reduced hematocrit, and wound hemorrhage. Tetrastarch may cause fetal harm. Consult your doctor if pregnant.
- washed red blood cellsWashed red blood cells are used for transfusion in patients who have severe allergic reactions (anaphylactic) to standard red blood cell transfusions. Common side effects of washed red blood cells include hemolytic transfusion reactions that destroy red blood cells, feverish (febrile) non-hemolytic reactions, post-transfusion bruising (purpura), transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO), transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), allergic reactions, serious allergic (anaphylactic) reactions, and transfusion-transmitted infections and septic reactions.
- What Are Blood Oxygen Levels? Blood oxygen levels (arterial oxygen) indicate the oxygen levels present in the blood that flows through the arteries of the body. Normal arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2) measured using the arterial blood gas (ABG) test is approximately 75 to 100 millimeters of mercury (75-100 mmHg).
- What Are the 3 Rarest Blood Types?The red blood cells or RBCs present in the blood carry certain molecules, called antigens, on their surface that determine what blood group you have. The antigens depend on the genes you inherit from your parents. These antigens may be grouped in various categories to form a system for blood typing called the ABO system.The EldonCard blood type test kit uses the basic forward antibody technique of blood hematology for quick and simple determination of your blood type.
- What Is the Golden Blood Type?The golden blood type or Rh null blood group is the rarest blood group and contains no Rh antigens (proteins) on the red blood cells (RBCs). Learn about other rare blood types.
- whole bloodWhole blood is the entire blood collected from donors that contains all the blood components. Whole blood is primarily used for transfusion in adults with massive blood loss and active bleeding, who generally require all the blood components. Whole blood may also be reconstituted using stored plasma, red blood cells (RBCs), and platelets, usually used for cardiovascular surgeries and exchange transfusions in newborn babies. Common side effects of whole blood include hemolytic transfusion reactions, hives (urticaria), itching (pruritus), wheezing, shortness of breath (dyspnea), low blood pressure (hypotension), and serious allergic (anaphylactic) reactions.
