Anyone else sell plasma?

[gasperdam]

I remember someone posting a while ago about selling blood plasma as a way
to make extra $. I saw an ad in our paper for this and I have signed up to do it too. Has anyone else done this? How bad is it? ( My dh keeps scaring me that he's heard it's REALLY bad.)
Thanks!

 

[HayGan]

I have both sold plasma and donated it. I sold 2 or 3 times in college when I needed beer money and have donated it over 25 times (I had a sister who had leukemia so I kind of felt that it was a responsibility I had to others.)

It is not bad. They do use thicker needles and you have 2 needles inserted (1 in each arm) They remove the blood, it goes thru a machine which pulls the plasma out of your blood and re-inserts your red blood cells into your body. You can actually donate every few days because a healthy body repleneshed plasma that quickly.

Someone has to do it! There are thousands of people that need blood and blood related products everyday. Just think, not only are you earning a few dollars but you are also helping save someone's life!

 

[zazu1971]

You are providing a service. I have donated plasma a number of times, nowhere in my area lets you sell that I have found. I don't find it to be bad at all.. not really any worse than giving blood.

 

[MickeyP]

How much do you make each time? Sounds tempting, but I'm too chicken with needles and blood, uhhhh........my blood.

 

[Plantlady]

A friend of mine gets $70 a week.. I think she sells plasma twice a week. Her and her DH do it together.. to get $140.

She doesn't mind needles, so states it's no problem at all.

 

[MickeyP]

How safe is it? I think that's just compromising your health and you are asking for trouble.

 

[CocozMom]

I did it in college, it helped me make it through financially. 2 times a week every week for three years. It has been 9 years and I am fine. The only complaint I had was being quite cold after the process.
Good Luck!

 

[HayGan]

How safe is it? I think that's just compromising your health and you are asking for trouble.

It is very safe. How in any way is it compromising your health? As I mentioned before it is very easy for healthy people as your body repleneshes your own plasma supply very quickly. It is a life saving measure for many people and I for one am thankful that people do it (whether it be paid or unpaid.)

 

[carj]

In my broke college days, everyone was doing this! I went once and tried. The tech took a look at my right arm and said "nope!" looked at my left arm and said "no way!" and that was that. (Maybe my veins looked too small?? I have no idea.

Anyway, that was the end of my plasma selling plan.
I have donated blood many times with no problem but apparantly, I am not plasma material!

 

[willoughbyclan]

I have done it in the past, when I was first married and needed extra money. I haven’t sold plasma for near 15 yrs though. The needles are bigger and it does hurt a little more than giving blood (which I do as often as I am allowed). The larger needles left scars on the inside of my arms, which I am self conscious of still today. The process took longer than the time it takes me to give blood.

 

[MsLeFever]

I did when I lived in Allentown and in WV. The places I used only used one needle, the same one withdrew and gave back. Both places had movies or TV running and other than a wierd taste in my mouth it was a breeze. Sometimes my iron was too low to donate so I'd take a week off and take vitamins and get it up again.

The money was cash and I felt like I was doing something good at the same time! If there was a place here to do it I sure would!

Barbara

 

[OnourwaytoWDW]

The one thing people have said is these centers are backed by pharmaceutical companies.
Here is a post I posted just a few days ago.

Sure! It's a great thing really. People need plasma to survive. So pharmaceuticals companies have set up donation centers to help with this.

Baxter Pharmaceuticals has ours and it's called Biolife Plasma Services.

The first appointment is like 3 hours long and you read about the process, talk with a nurse, vitals taken, make sure your healthy, and they draw some blood.

Then you normal donation usually takes 1-11/2 hours. They also monitor your iron, blood pressure and temp before you give each time. It's nice too because I get weighed and it keeps me in check!

You lay in a reclined chair while your blood is drawn (like giving blood) and it spins around in this machine and separates the plasma from your blood, which then the blood is returned to your body. There is about 12 cycles of this. If I drink lots of water, the whole donation takes about 1 hour. If I'm dehydrated, it takes about 1 1/2 hours.

You can donate 2 times in a 7 day period. The first time is $20 and the second is $30. They always have holiday specials like the July 4th was a $15.00 bonus, give twice a week for one month and you get a $25 bonus.

They mark your finger with black light so you can't go donate other places.

It's really easy. I usually take a book. Some people just sit there, some people bring movies, ipods, ds, etc.

It's nice to know I am helping someone that needs my plasma and getting paid for it is even better!
__________________

 

[mum4jenn]

I used to do this every week about 10 years ago. It was great money and it has gone up since then. They are VERY thorough in making sure there is nothing wrong with you before you donate. I tried to start doing this again last year but the two times I tried my iron level was too low once and my pulse rate was too fast once. I gave up after that. I was hoping to be able to continue on but with having to wait to go through all the testing and then getting turned down I just could not wait that much each week. I guess my age has something to do with it but if I could do it I would again!!

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

I have heard of this, but never tried it. Wonder if they have any sites around me. Of course I would have to wait until I am done being pregnant and nursing, but may look into then!

 

[DawnM]

I did it in college. I probably only did it for 3 months or so. I still have needle marks to prove it! The needles are bigger, like IV needles and after prolonged donating, it will leave a mark.

Dawn

 

[kdkbrebel]

I have donated plasma before but never for $. How do I find a place near me that pays for it?

 

[thomascaldwell1]

I have donated plasma before but never for $. How do I find a place near me that pays for it?

I'm with you on this one! Although it's great to donate, when there's a needle involved, some $ would be a great incentive...

 

[TheLittleRoo]

I donated using the same 2-needle draw/replace system for my cousin with leukemia, only they harvested platelets instead of plasma. I had a HUGE fear of needles going into it, but I was one of only three people who was CMV negative that could donate for my cousin, so how could I possibly say 'no'? I got over the fear really quickly (I used to faint on sight of a needle stick into my arm, yes, dead away faint...) and though I did dread my turn in the chair, it wasn't that bad for saving someone's life.

So, if you need the money but are afraid of needles, I would bet you can get over the fear and actually get accustomed to the process pretty easily. It didn't hurt unless the phlebotomist was bad at finding a vein. Occasionally, I'd get a blowout in a vein that resulted in a nasty blotched bruise from spilled blood by a bad stick.

How would you find places in your area that buy plasma?

 

[mum4jenn]

Many places have ads in the classified section of the newspaper.

 

[rcpae]

Obviously I would be a horrible candidate for this. I feel faint just reading about it...