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Understanding the Plasma Donation Process

A common question I get from potential donors asks, "Is it safe to donate plasma?"

Naturally, this is an initial concern that anyone would have when considering going to a center to give their biological material through a needle. So let's go over some of the facts.

The Food & Drug Administration has important regulations to which plasma centers must adhere in order to legally, ethically, and safely collect plasma from consented donors. Some companies that collect plasma are FDA licensed & registered, while others are only FDA registered.

What is the difference? FDA licensed & registered companies are those who collect healthy plasma and disease state plasma. Many centers who collect healthy plasma, do so for fractionation or transfusable products. They may also collect disease state plasma on the side to sell to manufacturers or other researchers. Thus, they must be both licensed & registered with the FDA to ensure that quality compliance is maintained.

Other centers that are only FDA registered are probably just collecting disease state blood or plasma to then provide to IVD manufacturers making non-injectable products or to researchers trying to advance medicine.

Whether the center is licensed & registered, or only registered with the FDA -- all centers are held to strict standards to ensure that donor confidentiality and safety is maintained.

Here are some of the basics that you should know about donating plasma:

1. You should be at a center where a licensed physician is present on-site
2. You should be assessed at the time of your donation by a licensed physician to ensure you are healthy enough to donate plasma.
3. You should undergo a quick anemia blood test (testing for your hematocrit oriron levels). The FDA recommends that participating plasma donors should have a hematocrit level of 38 or higher.
4. The IV started in your arm must be a sterile, disposable needle
5. You should drink plenty of water and eat a healthy meal prior to donating
6. You must be at least 18 years of age or older
7. You should weight at least 110lbs or more
8. You may not exceed more than 2 donations within a seven day period, with 1 full day in between donations.

Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, you should check with your own physician or healthcare provider prior to donating plasma if you have any concerns. SinceSeraCare Life Sciences collects plasma from those who have autoimmune disorders or infectious illnesses, there can be certain health conditions that can defer a donor from participating. A common reason for deferral is low iron levels (often in autoimmune disease donors). Another could be related to a medication.

Is donating plasma safe? Absolutely. The process itself is extremely safe.

But is it safe for you? This question will have to be answered by your doctor who fully understands your condition.

Helpful FDA Links:

Understandably, the FDA's website can be tricky to navigate through -- so here are some links from them so you can learn more about the safety regulations for donating plasma and/or donating blood.

Find an FDA Licensed Blood Establishment:
http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/EstablishmentRegistration/BloodEstablishmentRegistration/FindaBloodEstablishment/default.htm

Frequently Asked Questions about Donating Blood:
http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/BloodBloodProducts/QuestionsaboutBlood/DonatingBlood/default.htm

Informed Consent Recommendations for Source Plasma Donors:
http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/Blood/ucm073433.htm

Interesting Blood Facts from the Red Cross:

http://www.redcrossblood.org/learn-about-blood/blood-facts-and-statistics

Interested in donating plasma? If you have been diagnosed with an infectious illness or autoimmune disorder, you can get paid to donate plasma while helping to improve medical research. Manufacturers and researchers need antibody positive plasma in order to create better treatments and make it easier to diagnose illnesses. Learn how you can help make a difference:www.idonateplasma.com

Is it Safe To Donate Plasma? Understanding Donor Safety for Plasma Donations

from my blog: http://idonateplasma.blogspot.com/

Is Donating Plasma Safe?

Understanding the Plasma Donation Process