Become a Donor

Making the decision to become a plasma donor means that you are an essential part of a complex manufacturing process that produces life-saving medicine for chronically ill individuals and those who have suffered burns, trauma or are having major surgery. Your ability to provide high-quality plasma to help these patients is appreciated, and the industry hopes to encourage donors to become committed to the donation process. Here’s what you can expect when you become a plasma donor:

Steps for Donating Plasma

1. Check in at reception
   

   When a donor enters the plasma donation center, he or she must have a valid form of identification (such as a government issued driver’s license) and proof of a social security number. If the current address is different from what appears on the ID, bring verification of the current address, such as a recently postmarked or dated piece of mail, like a utility bill.

2. Health screening and physical exam
   

   In a private room, qualified medical staff at the center will ask questions to verify eligibility as a plasma donor. Vital signs will be checked and a fingerstick check will be performed to measure the level of red blood cells and plasma proteins in the blood. Center staff will also record the donor’s medical history. If it is the first visit to donate, a file will be prepared to streamline the process the next time.

3. Plasmapheresis procedure
   

   Once the health screening and exam is completed, a donor is ready to be escorted to a comfortable, plasma donation bed, where a trained medical staff person will complete the venipuncture or “blood draw” and will connect the donor with the plasmapheresis device, a specialized piece of medical equipment used to collect plasma. The automated medical device removes whole blood, separates the plasma from the other blood components and then returns those components to the donor. During the procedure, a sterile, single-use medical kit is used and the donor’s blood never leaves the device.

4. Thanks for time and commitment
   

   Once you’ve completed plasmapheresis, a donor is able to rest and recover in dedicated area of the center, and is thanked for the valuable contribution made to the creation of life-saving therapies. The donor also receives compensation for the time and effort involved with donating plasma.

5. Schedule the next visit.
   

   Before a donor leaves the center, he or she is encouraged to plan their next visit to donate plasma.

For more information or additional questions about plasma donation visit our FAQs. To find a plasma donation center, visit Find a Donation Center.