Who You’re Helping if You Donate Plasma

Source: (Photo by Juancho Torres/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

STATEWIDE–You can get paid for donating plasma in Indiana, but there are some parameters about how often you can donate.

“The compensation does recognize that people take extra time with logistical aspects of their lives to make time for regular plasma donation,” said Anita Brikman, President and CEO of the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association.

Brikman says that compensation varies depending on the plasma donation center. There are 38 plasma donation centers in Indiana.

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“There are several in the Indianapolis area and one in Greenwood where I grew up,” said Brikman.

She says it’s not always easy to get people to donate plasma because they are just scared of needles.

“That might be why blood donation is also tough for some people. But rest assured, it is a very safe procedure. There are very few side effects of any kind. If people can think of individuals waiting for that donation, it might spur them to overcome any worries they might have and give it a shot. The people who have things like bleeding disorders or immune deficiencies really need that plasma. A child who is born without a working immune system could be helped out a lot by plasma. That plasma donation could help that child lead a normal life,” said Brikman.

As for how often you can donate, the Food and Drug Administration has some parameters that you cannot go beyond.

“It can be donated in the United States twice in a seven day period with 48 hours in between each donation. Because plasma regenerates faster in the body than whole blood, you can give plasma more often than whole blood,” said Brikman.

On Thursday, Brikman will discuss the possible risks of donating plasma.