Plasma Donor

If you’re a reasonably healthy individual and you meet certain criteria, you can get paid to donate blood plasma, which is a fluid that makes up about half of your blood.

Clinics, hospitals, and medical companies often need more of it to treat patients and develop medication, which is why there are several companies that will pay you to “donate” it.

How much you can make depends on a few factors, including how often you donate. Many clinics will pay you large sums the first few times you donate (e.g., close to $100 for your initial few visits) and then lower their rates the more often you do so.

Most visits take around 90 minutes, although the first time you go, you’ll have to undergo a health screening, which may stretch the process to around 2 hours. You can usually donate twice per week (although most people don’t do it that frequently).

Blood plasma donation is generally safe, provided you do it at a reputable clinic. The entire process will take place under medical supervision.

However, paid plasma donation is somewhat controversial. Some people do experience side effects (usually relatively mild ones, described below). Moreover, some people find the idea of undergoing medical procedures for money exploitative or degrading.

Despite its mixed reputation, donating blood plasma for money is perfectly legal in the US, although it’s illegal in many other countries.

Not everyone can donate plasma, although most people can. Requirements vary from clinic to clinic, but in general, you must:

• Be at least 17 years or older (16 or older with parental consent)
• Weigh at least 110 pounds (50 kilograms)
• Have blood pressure and iron, protein, and hemoglobin levels that are within a healthy range
• Test negative for certain viruses, such as hepatitis and HIV
• Not have had a piercing or tattoo within the past 4–12 months
• Not be pregnant

Again, plasma donation is usually safe, but some people do experience negative side effects from it. Relatively minor ones include:

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

Rarely, people experience more serious side effects, which may include:

• Embolisms (blocked blood vessels)
• Hematomas (blood pooling in body tissue)
• Allergic reactions to the medications used in the procedure

When you think about whether or not you want to donate plasma for money, consider the following questions:

• Are you comfortable with a medical procedure that’s probably safe but does carry certain risks (like all procedures)?
• Do you have any ethical problems with encouraging people to give blood with paid incentives?
• How badly do you need the money, and is there anything else you could do to earn it instead?

Ultimately, whether or not you want to donate plasma for money is a personal choice. Not everyone is comfortable with it, but millions of people also do it with no issue, and there’s no doubt that it’s a quick way to earn a few extra bucks.

If you do it, our advice is to also start another side hustle along with it so that you’re not dependent on plasma donation for your second income stream forever.