Donating Plasma for Money: How Does It Work and How Much Can You Make?

The way plasma donation works is simple: you visit a donation center, undergo a screening procedure, donate, and get paid. Most of the time (assuming nothing disqualifies you), you can donate the first time you visit.

Your initial visit will take longer than subsequent visits, as you’ll probably have to complete various tests and checks. It may take up to 2 hours (including a health screening and an in-depth questionnaire).

After that, the process will be quicker and will take around 90 minutes or less.

Where can you donate plasma?

You can donate plasma at specialized plasma donation centers. The major plasma donation companies include:

• CSL Plasma
• Octapharma
• BioLife Plasma Services
• Grifols Plasma

Alternatively, you can donate at certain Red Cross blood donation centers or other plasma donation centers, such as:

• ADMA BioCenters
• ImmunoTek Bio Centers
• BioTest Plasma

For more information, check out DonatingPlasma.org. This is an educational website that provides information about plasma donation and features a search tool for donation centers.

Who can donate plasma?

To donate plasma, you must satisfy a number of requirements. These vary somewhat from center to center and company to company, but in general, you must:

• Weigh at least 110 pounds (50 kilograms)
• Have blood pressure that’s within a normal, healthy range
• Have iron, protein and hemoglobin levels that aren’t too low
• Test negative for certain transmissible viruses, such as hepatitis and HIV
• Not have had a piercing or tattoo recently (most donation centers require a waiting period of 4–12 months after a piercing or tattoo before you can donate again)
• Not be pregnant
• Be 17 years or older in most states (although many allow you to donate blood with your parents’ consent if you’re 16 years old)

As mentioned, your eligibility to donate will also depend on the results of various screening procedures and physical exams you’ll have to complete. These will include:

• Questions about your medical history
• A blood sample
• A blood pressure check
• A pulse check
• A temperature check
• A quick physical exam

After you donate, the center will test your plasma and evaluate whether it can be used. This will determine whether you can continue to donate in the future.

How often can you donate plasma?

You can donate plasma more often than you can donate blood, as your body can replenish it more easily. However, there’s still a cap (set by the FDA) on how often you can donate plasma. You can’t do it more than once every two days or twice a week. 1

Individual centers or organizations may also set their own limits on how often you can donate, so check with them for more information.

Be aware that the FDA requires plasma donation centers to test your blood twice before they can use it. Your plasma is only usable after you donate again at the same plasma center within 6 months, so if one of your goals is to help people (and not just to make money), you’ll need to give plasma at least twice. 2

How the blood plasma collection process works

Blood plasma collection is called “plasmapheresis.” Despite the complicated-sounding name, it’s a simple process. Here’s how it works:

1. After you complete your initial screening, the staff of the donation center will seat you comfortably in a reclining chair.
2. They will place a sterile needle into one of your veins (typically in your arm).
3. They will draw blood from your arm into a machine called a plasmapheresis machine.
4. The machine will separate your plasma from other blood components (i.e., platelets and red and white blood cells).
5. Your plasma will accumulate in a bag, and the plasmapheresis machine will return the other blood components to your body (usually combined with sterile saline to replace the withdrawn plasma) through the same needle.

Apart from the insertion of the needle (which will feel like getting a shot), the process isn’t painful. You can relax and read a book or use your phone, and the center’s medical staff will monitor you closely the entire time.

You can often make up to $100 for your first plasma donation (sometimes for your first few donations). However, payouts often drop with successive visits, with regular donors reportedly earning around $20–$75 per visit.

The first time you donate plasma, you may also get an additional bonus. For example, one major donation company, CSL Plasma, claims that you may receive over $500 in your first month as a new donor (depending on when and where you donate). BioLife says that new donors can get up to $850 in their first month of donating.

In general, your payout will depend on the center and location. It will also potentially depend on how much you weigh (heavier donors get paid more in some centers, probably because they can donate more).

How you’ll get paid: You’ll usually be given a prepaid (and reloadable) Mastercard or Visa debit card after your first donation with a company. You’ll receive subsequent payments on this card as well.

Do you have to report plasma donations on your taxes?

Yes, you have to report plasma donations on your taxes. Although it’s called a “donation,” you’re really being compensated for your time. Legally, it’s a type of income.

If you earn more than $400 from plasma donations in a given year, you’re supposed to report it using the tax form for self-employment income (Schedule SE, Form 1040). 3

Donating plasma can be a good short-term side hustle for people in some situations, but the practice is somewhat controversial.

As we’ve mentioned, you can make hundreds of dollars with relatively little effort—the first few times you donate, at least. If you’re looking for a fast cash injection (pardon the pun), plasma donation might suit your needs.

Students often donate plasma to help fund their academic expenses or to earn beer money. However, plasma donation is best treated as an occasional cash bonus as opposed to a source of regular income. The money you can earn from plasma donation varies, and it might be more lucrative at times when there are shortages.

Is donating plasma safe?

By and large, donating blood plasma is safe. To protect yourself, it’s very important to make sure you’re doing it in a legitimate collection center that’s been certified by the Industry Quality Plasma Program (IQPP). These centers are clean and have sterile equipment and professionally trained staff, which means you won’t be at risk of catching any illnesses during the donation process.

Before visiting a center, search for it on DonatingPlasma.org (linked above) and check for the badge that says “IQPP Certified.” Never donate at a center that hasn’t been certified.

Potential side effects of donating blood plasma

Although donating plasma is largely safe, it can have negative side effects. These are usually mild, but can occasionally be serious. As mentioned, all legitimate donation centers have medical staff on hand who will intervene if something goes wrong.

Mild short-term side effects

Short-term side effects of plasma donation can include:

• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Bruising
• Dehydration
• Lightheadedness or fainting
• Bleeding

Serious short-term side effects

In rare cases, plasma donors can suffer from more serious side effects, such as:

• Embolisms (blocked blood vessels due to clots or air bubbles)
• Hematomas (blood collecting outside of blood vessels)
• An allergic reaction to the anticoagulant used to reduce blood clotting

Long-term side effects

Plasma donation can also have long-term side effects, which you may experience if you do it too often:

• Iron depletion or iron deficiency anemia
• Lower immunoglobulin levels (which can lower immunity and possibly increase infection risk)
• Strained veins (from frequent needle insertions, which can cause inflammation or damage to blood vessels over time)

If you plan on donating plasma regularly, run your plan by your doctor first, and be sure to get regular checkups.

Ethical arguments against donating plasma for money

Not everyone approves of plasma donation as a source of income. The US is one of just five countries in the world where donating plasma for money is legal, and some people take issue with a side hustle that involves selling blood (even in a safe way).

Complicating matters, many of the people who donate plasma for money are lower-income individuals who don’t have many other options, which leads some to see the practice as exploitative.

Journalist Kathleen McLaughlin wrote a book about this topic, “Blood Money,” in which she investigated the dark side of the plasma donation industry. She also published an article on plasma donation in The Guardian in which she described it as “a business that thrives on people’s economic hardship.”

Ultimately, whether you’re comfortable with donating plasma for money is a personal decision that you’ll have to make on your own. If you decide to go ahead with it, you should be aware of the risks and arguments against it as well as the rewards.

Before you donate plasma, follow these steps:

• Limit your alcohol and caffeine intake for a few days before your appointment (and avoid drinking either of these at all within 24–48 hours of your appointment).
• Nourish your body with a protein- and iron-rich diet in the days before your appointment.
• Avoid eating foods that are high in saturated fats and cholesterol (e.g., pizzas, burgers, or fries) the night before you donate.
• Get plenty of sleep the night before you donate.
• Avoid drinking milk on the day of your appointment (the calcium in milk reduces iron absorption in your blood)
• Drink plenty of water (or other caffeine-free beverages, like fruit juice) on the day of your appointment.
• Eat something healthy a few hours beforehand.
• Avoid nicotine within an hour of your donation.
• Bring a book, headphones, or your phone to the donation center to help you relax and pass the time.
• Bring a light sweater in case you get cold during the donation process.
• Avoid strenuous activity for at least an hour before your donation and for 24 hours afterward.

These tips will minimize the risk of side effects and make the donation process as easy and pleasant as possible.