Ever donate plasma?

[DawnM]

I looked this up after you posted. It said something about paying on a debit card???? I suppose you could cash that out?

Dawn

I first did this many years ago back in college but started going regularly since March 2010 when I was laid off of my job of almost 14 years. I'm a single mom so any extra income I get is awesome but now I use 80% of the money I get from "donating" for my Disney Vacation Fund!

The place I went to back in the day, actually was kind of gross and I stopped going back then because it just didn't seem safe after a while. Where I go NOW is very clean and has what I consider more of a hospital feel and the employees are nice and friendly. I think I was told that I was donating the blood plasma but getting paid to compensate me for my time.

Anyway, like a previous poster said, you can only go twice in a 7 day period and your iron and protein have to be so high or you aren't allowed to do it for a specific amount of days.

I get $30 the first time in a week and $40 the second time that week. The place I go to only does a $10 bonus on your 6th donation in a calendar month. But this gets me atleast $290 a month.

Needles don't bother me so it's a very easy process for me. There are certain employees who "stick" better than others and I always request the ones who do it without causing me any pain at all. I go early in the morning on the days I donate so there are never big crowds. On average, from the time I get there til the time I leave, I'm in there about an hour. 40 mins of that is the actual donation time.

HTH!!

ETA: The place I go is called OctaPharma Plasma. You do have to undergo a physical the first time which takes longer but then it's only about an hour after that time. You usually go "faster" if you're hydrated. I eat a non-greasy meal and drink plenty of water the night before and the morning of and it helps me get done the fasted I've found. I'm sure every place is different but I used to get paid in cash from an ATM at the center (they used to give each person a unique code and you had to enter your b-date to withdraw) but now they pay by check.

 

[zianha]

I looked this up after you posted. It said something about paying on a debit card???? I suppose you could cash that out?

Dawn

Yeah in my area all of the plasma centers pay on a prepaid debit card now. You have the option of withdrawing the funds at an ATM or even transferring the money to your bank account (each option has fees) or you can just spend the funds at point of sale. My card gives me one free signature based transaction per donation. I hate paying the fees so I tend to use the card for things like a bill payment or lately I've been letting the funds sit and used a lot of it to pay for my ressie for my March WDW trip!

 

[DawnM]

I see. I wish a center were closer. I can't see myself driving 50 miles r/t twice per week. Between the time travelled and the donation time, I would be looking at over 3 hours per visit.

It would be a good time to catch up on audiobooks though!

And we were trying to figure out how to cover my oldest's big scouting trip in 2013. It will be over 3K (dh is going too).

I think I will stick with cutting a Disney trip for next year if necessary and cutting in another area.

Dawn

Yeah in my area all of the plasma centers pay on a prepaid debit card now. You have the option of withdrawing the funds at an ATM or even transferring the money to your bank account (each option has fees) or you can just spend the funds at point of sale. My card gives me one free signature based transaction per donation. I hate paying the fees so I tend to use the card for things like a bill payment or lately I've been letting the funds sit and used a lot of it to pay for my ressie for my March WDW trip!

 

[sbell111]

Yeah in my area all of the plasma centers pay on a prepaid debit card now. You have the option of withdrawing the funds at an ATM or even transferring the money to your bank account (each option has fees) or you can just spend the funds at point of sale. My card gives me one free signature based transaction per donation. I hate paying the fees so I tend to use the card for things like a bill payment or lately I've been letting the funds sit and used a lot of it to pay for my ressie for my March WDW trip!

How much are the fees? The reason that I ask is that we have started using a square reader to move funds from any prepaid debit card that we obtain to our checking account. The fee that square charges is 2.75% of the transaction and the transaction could not be easier. That has been worth it for us to get that money into the account that we use to pay bills rather than to have it be blown (or lost to fees) as a prepaid debit card.

I guess what I would do is as follows:

- If there is something that needed to be purchased, I would use the prepaid card (so no fees)
- The balance after that purchase (or if there were no needed purchases) I would transfer to checking using whichever method was cheaper (assuming that it was convenient).

 

[DawnM]

Do you have to take in the debit card each time to get added funds onto it or do they give you a new card each time, or just add the funds electronically?

I am curious as I wouldn't want to lose funds either, but I wouldn't be willing to pay a fee to get funds added to my bank.

Dawn

Yeah in my area all of the plasma centers pay on a prepaid debit card now. You have the option of withdrawing the funds at an ATM or even transferring the money to your bank account (each option has fees) or you can just spend the funds at point of sale. My card gives me one free signature based transaction per donation. I hate paying the fees so I tend to use the card for things like a bill payment or lately I've been letting the funds sit and used a lot of it to pay for my ressie for my March WDW trip!

 

[zianha]

How much are the fees? The reason that I ask is that we have started using a square reader to move funds from any prepaid debit card that we obtain to our checking account. The fee that square charges is 2.75% of the transaction and the transaction could not be easier. That has been worth it for us to get that money into the account that we use to pay bills rather than to have it be blown (or lost to fees) as a prepaid debit card.

I guess what I would do is as follows:

- If there is something that needed to be purchased, I would use the prepaid card (so no fees)
- The balance after that purchase (or if there were no needed purchases) I would transfer to checking using whichever method was cheaper (assuming that it was convenient).

The card OctaPharma gives donors here is through Citi. It's $1.50 to do an electronic funds transfer to you bank account regardless of the amount you are transferring. I can get money from an ATM for "free" if it's a money pass ATM but the ATM holder fee is not refunded so the one time I did an ATM transaction it cost me $3.75!! Here's the info from the website where I check my balance etc. :

SCHEDULE OF FEES

ATM Withdrawal Fee - Domestic $1.50 per withdrawal
ATM Withdrawal Fee - International $3.50 per withdrawal
ATM Inquiry Fee (No charge when obtained by phone) $0.50
ATM Decline Fee $0.25
PIN Point-of-Sale (POS) Transaction $0.50
Signature Point-of-Sale (POS) Transaction $0.25 (One free per donation)
Point-of-Sale (POS) Transaction Decline $0.25
ACH Bank Transfer $1.50
Plastic Replacement Fee $6.95 per incident (First Replacement Free)
Expedited Delivery Fee for Plastic Replacement (By Donor Request) $20.00
Account Inactivity Fee 1 (if applicable) $3.00 per month
International Transaction Fee 2 3.00% per transaction
Depending upon the ATM machine used, the ATM provider may impose charges for your transaction that are in addition to the ATM Fees listed above.
1 Account Inactivity Fee: Subject to applicable law, a monthly inactivity fee will be applied to all accounts, provided that the fee for months 1-6 will not be collected until the six month anniversary date. Fees thereafter will be collected monthly. Fees will be postponed if either of the following criteria [are/is] met: 1) There have been funds added to your account in last three months; 2) There have been purchases made with your account in last three months. The charge will be recurring each month unless the account is active as stated in (1) or (2) above or the balance of the account is $0.00.
2 International Transaction Fee: A 3% fee will be applied to all transactions made outside the United States. This fee is included in the total amount of the settled transaction. See the Terms of Use for additional information regarding Foreign Transactions.

 

[zianha]

Do you have to take in the debit card each time to get added funds onto it or do they give you a new card each time, or just add the funds electronically?

I am curious as I wouldn't want to lose funds either, but I wouldn't be willing to pay a fee to get funds added to my bank.

Dawn

No I don't have to take the card in each time. The funds are added instantly after I finish the donation. I don't like paying the $1.50 to transfer the money to my bank account but there was been one time that it worked out best for me to transfer it. It was over $300 that I transferred so it was a little more worth it at that time.

 

[kkandaj]

In college, I had to pay some speeding tickets without my parents finding out. I started donating plasma--received $20 the first time, $40 the second and $20 each additional time. The place and workers were clean, but I wouldn't say the clientele were. I hate needles, but hated the wrath of my parents more and DID NOT want to ask them for money. The last time I donated, a guy started screaming "get this out, get this out" and started ripping the needle out of his arm. He donated often, I guess, by the way they talked to him, but did tell him he couldn't come back anymore. Needless to say, I was completely freaked out (hence never going back)!

A couple of weeks later, a woman went up to my mom and asked why I had track marks on the inside of my arms. I had to fess up then, so they didn't think I was using drugs.

 

[zianha]

A couple of weeks later, a woman went up to my mom and asked why I had track marks on the inside of my arms. I had to fess up then, so they didn't think I was using drugs.

I know what you meant, but just to be clear, donating plasma does not leave track marks but you do develop a visible scar where the needle is inserted. Track marks actually leave veins darkened and leave "tracks" along the veins down your arm from the damage to the veins from drug use. I just didn't want anyone thinking that if they donate plasma they will have track marks.

 

[Missy29]

I am very petite and I don't weigh enough to donate blood. I would love to do it but I can't. If you're under 110lbs they won't take you. Just an FYI.

That said as a teenager I had a freakish reaction to a sulfa based antibiotic and needed a plasma transfusion. I would so love to "pay it back". Thanks to anyone who does!!

I donated blood in high school for extra credit once, I weighed about 100 lbs but lied and said I was 110 ( they didnt deny me or weigh me)bad idea, I ended fainting in the hall only to wake up to about 30 people looking down at me,talk about embarrassing! I donate now once a year but I dont think donating blood and plasma is the same, but what do I know

 

[luvthemouse71]

I donated years ago and had a bad reaction. I got all shocky and then proceeded to pass out- twice.

I've given blood without a problem so I don't know what the issue was. They asked me nicely to not come back, lol.

 

[AnnaNonamus]

What was it like? How much did they pay you? Was the center clean? How was the crowd in there?

I don't recommend it. I tried it, and got my medical history messed up for life.

The actual donating isn't bad. A little cold (your body temp lowers). The problem was the company I went through (BioLife- not sure if they're nation wide or not).

In the begining, you do a TON of medical tests to make sure you're healthy. Then they allow you to start donating. When I went, I was paid $20 the first time, and $30 the second time in a week. So, $50 a week, no more than twice a week.

I was there maybe 3 weeks when they had me meet with a nurse who told me that I had tested positive for hepatitis C, and could no longer donate. As I sat there completely dumbfounded, she continued to say that they repeated the test on the SAME draw of blood, and on a SECOND draw of my blood, and both times, the test was NEGATIVE for Hep C.

However, because I had a false positive, they had to report me to nation wide medical banks- I can no longer donate blood, plasma, or organs in ANY situation. I've been banned for life.

What that means in the long run, though, is that I have 3 kids I can never help, because someone in their lab made a mistake when they tested my blood.

I absolutely do NOT recommend plasma donation to anyone for that reason alone. The $150 I made in that 3 weeks was not worth the future problems that may crop up if my kids ever need medical assistance that I can't give them.

 

[johnnymo99]

I used to do it a little over 20 years ago. I believe we were paid 15 or 20 dollars each time. The place I used to go to was across the street from the University of Akron. It was always full of college students and winos. What a combination.

 

[torinsmom]

I don't recommend it. I tried it, and got my medical history messed up for life.

The actual donating isn't bad. A little cold (your body temp lowers). The problem was the company I went through (BioLife- not sure if they're nation wide or not).

In the begining, you do a TON of medical tests to make sure you're healthy. Then they allow you to start donating. When I went, I was paid $20 the first time, and $30 the second time in a week. So, $50 a week, no more than twice a week.

I was there maybe 3 weeks when they had me meet with a nurse who told me that I had tested positive for hepatitis C, and could no longer donate. As I sat there completely dumbfounded, she continued to say that they repeated the test on the SAME draw of blood, and on a SECOND draw of my blood, and both times, the test was NEGATIVE for Hep C.

However, because I had a false positive, they had to report me to nation wide medical banks- I can no longer donate blood, plasma, or organs in ANY situation. I've been banned for life.

What that means in the long run, though, is that I have 3 kids I can never help, because someone in their lab made a mistake when they tested my blood.

I absolutely do NOT recommend plasma donation to anyone for that reason alone. The $150 I made in that 3 weeks was not worth the future problems that may crop up if my kids ever need medical assistance that I can't give them.

Have you really checked into this? That seems totally illegal to me. Only CONFIRMED cases are supposed to permanently defer you from donating. Your case was not confirmed, since the other tests showed you as negative. I would be talking to a medical lawyer.

I had a bovine(cow) dura graft when I had brain surgery and because of the risk of mad cow disease, I can't give blood products. However, I was told I could donate to family if the correct consent was given by the family member or their guardian. That gave me piece of mind since almost everyone in my family shares my blood type.

 

[AnnaNonamus]

Have you really checked into this? That seems totally illegal to me. Only CONFIRMED cases are supposed to permanently defer you from donating. Your case was not confirmed, since the other tests showed you as negative. I would be talking to a medical lawyer.

I had a bovine(cow) dura graft when I had brain surgery and because of the risk of mad cow disease, I can't give blood products. However, I was told I could donate to family if the correct consent was given by the family member or their guardian. That gave me piece of mind since almost everyone in my family shares my blood type.

They gave me a letter to give to my doctor, who looked into it briefly, and told me I had been reported to the nation wide donor sites (ie: Red Cross, etc- places that would collect donations of any type of fluids), but apart from that, I've never looked into it further.

 

[MomToOne]

Be aware that you can't always get paid for donating plasma. In my area, the agency that handles all blood and related donationes does not pay for plasma donations. So research what they will pay in your area, if anything, before you get attached to the idea as a new source of income.

 

[Muushka]

I don't recommend it. I tried it, and got my medical history messed up for life.

The actual donating isn't bad. A little cold (your body temp lowers). The problem was the company I went through (BioLife- not sure if they're nation wide or not).

In the begining, you do a TON of medical tests to make sure you're healthy. Then they allow you to start donating. When I went, I was paid $20 the first time, and $30 the second time in a week. So, $50 a week, no more than twice a week.

I was there maybe 3 weeks when they had me meet with a nurse who told me that I had tested positive for hepatitis C, and could no longer donate. As I sat there completely dumbfounded, she continued to say that they repeated the test on the SAME draw of blood, and on a SECOND draw of my blood, and both times, the test was NEGATIVE for Hep C.

However, because I had a false positive, they had to report me to nation wide medical banks- I can no longer donate blood, plasma, or organs in ANY situation. I've been banned for life.

What that means in the long run, though, is that I have 3 kids I can never help, because someone in their lab made a mistake when they tested my blood.

I absolutely do NOT recommend plasma donation to anyone for that reason alone. The $150 I made in that 3 weeks was not worth the future problems that may crop up if my kids ever need medical assistance that I can't give them.

she continued to say that they repeated the test on the SAME draw of blood, and on a SECOND draw of my blood, and both times, the test was NEGATIVE for Hep C

If I am understanding you correctly:

They drew your blood and it was positive for Hep C. On that same sample they repeated the test and it tested positive for Hep C.

They called you back for a re-test of Hep C and it was negative, twice. Correct? If yes:

Actually I think that they have followed proper protocol. When the test is repeated on that original sample, it is repeated in duplicate (which I believe is standard procedure for blood bank products (did it for many years).
So actually the blood was tested 3 times and it was positive at least twice. That isn't lab error. HCV screening testing, if I remember correctly, has a high false positive rate (somewhere around 10%). That is a problem with the procedure, not the lab or tech who performed it.

Then you had your blood drawn again and it was negative twice.

Do you know if they sent your blood out for the follow up testing called HCV RIBA?

HCV RIBA test is an additional test to confirm the presence of antibodies to the virus. In most cases, it can tell if the positive anti-HCV test was due to exposure to HCV (positive RIBA) or represents a false signal (negative RIBA). In a few cases, the results cannot answer this question (indeterminate RIBA). Like the anti-HCV test, the RIBA test cannot tell if you are currently infected, only that you have been exposed to the virus.

I was only involved with the initial testing, the screening tests which included the HCV antibodies. I would give the positive results to the supervisor who would take it from there. She would send out the sample for RIBA testing. I am not sure how the deferral was made, if just a positive HCV and a negative RIBA is enough to defer someone or if both had to be positive.

But I do know that they need to protect the blood supply and anyone who tests positive, even just once (repeated twice on the same sample, of course) should be deferred.

My question would be the fact that this test was run at plasma center, if they did that follow up RIBA test that would have been definitive.

But if they tested that original sample the first time positive and second time (and should have been retested in duplicate) it was negative (on that original sample) I would question that protocol. And I would stop by my local Red Cross or somewhere where they actually do the testing on donors and talk with them about exactly what protocol should have been followed and what you can do now.

Good luck

 

[torinsmom]

If I am understanding you correctly:

They drew your blood and it was positive for Hep C. On that same sample they repeated the test and it tested positive for Hep C.

They called you back for a re-test of Hep C and it was negative, twice. Correct? If yes:

Actually I think that they have followed proper protocol. When the test is repeated on that original sample, it is repeated in duplicate (which I believe is standard procedure for blood bank products (did it for many years).
So actually the blood was tested 3 times and it was positive at least twice. That isn't lab error. HCV screening testing, if I remember correctly, has a high false positive rate (somewhere around 10%). That is a problem with the procedure, not the lab or tech who performed it.

Then you had your blood drawn again and it was negative twice.

Do you know if they sent your blood out for the follow up testing called HCV RIBA?


I was only involved with the initial testing, the screening tests which included the HCV antibodies. I would give the positive results to the supervisor who would take it from there. She would send out the sample for RIBA testing. I am not sure how the deferral was made, if just a positive HCV and a negative RIBA is enough to defer someone or if both had to be positive.

But I do know that they need to protect the blood supply and anyone who tests positive, even just once (repeated twice on the same sample, of course) should be deferred.

My question would be the fact that this test was run at plasma center, if they did that follow up RIBA test that would have been definitive.

But if they tested that original sample the first time positive and second time (and should have been retested in duplicate) it was negative (on that original sample) I would question that protocol. And I would stop by my local Red Cross or somewhere where they actually do the testing on donors and talk with them about exactly what protocol should have been followed and what you can do now.

Good luck

I think you are reading it wrong. She said

"I was there maybe 3 weeks when they had me meet with a nurse who told me that I had tested positive for hepatitis C, and could no longer donate. As I sat there completely dumbfounded, she continued to say that they repeated the test on the SAME draw of blood, and on a SECOND draw of my blood, and both times, the test was NEGATIVE for Hep C."

BOTH times indicates she tested negative twice, once on the first draw and once on the second draw. I don't understand how they could report this without further testing.

 

[laliwalden]

When you donate plasma thru a plasma donation center (not the Red Cross) it is going for the production of medicine and research. It is not directly being given to patients in a hospital setting.

Plasma is frozen after it is taken and has a shelf life of 10 years, not 1 like previously mentioned.

Also, it is not illegal to defer someone for a positive test result. If some tests positive, even if the confirmatory is negative, the donor must be deferred. And, that is not dependant on the company, it is a FDA guideline. There are some tests that you have a little more chance of continuing to donate.

Lets say you get a Hep B shot and do not inform us, your lab results will show up positive. Confirmatory may be negative, but it is too late. You will be done donating.

 

[torinsmom]

When you donate plasma thru a plasma donation center (not the Red Cross) it is going for the production of medicine and research. It is not directly being given to patients in a hospital setting.

Plasma is frozen after it is taken and has a shelf life of 10 years, not 1 like previously mentioned.

Also, it is not illegal to defer someone for a positive test result. If some tests positive, even if the confirmatory is negative, the donor must be deferred. And, that is not dependant on the company, it is a FDA guideline. There are some tests that you have a little more chance of continuing to donate.

Lets say you get a Hep B shot and do not inform us, your lab results will show up positive. Confirmatory may be negative, but it is too late. You will be done donating.

But would that keep you from donating to your own child? That is what the PP was saying. I can't donate because I had a bovine graft, but I was told I CAN do a direct donation for a family member if the correct forms are signed.