How Much Does CSL Plasma Pay?
The question is, how much does csl plasma pay? Enterprising folks have plenty of ways to make money, some more conventional than others. Donating plasma is one of the more unconventional methods and isn’t the same as donating blood. For one thing, plasma collection is automated, and your plasma is separated from your platelets and red blood cells. With blood donation, blood is usually drawn from a vein in your arm, and it’s not an automated process.
What Is Plasma?
Plasma is a fluid in blood that some people may call colorless or straw-colored. It’s the liquid portion that remains after you eliminate red blood cells, platelets, white blood cells and other cellular components. It consists of:
- More than half the volume of blood
- Proteins such as albumin
- Water that has dissolved salts
Plasma is used in the human body to:
- Prevent fluid from leaking into tissues
- Keep blood vessels healthy and unclogged
- Assist with blood circulation and blood pressure
- Help carry heat and stabilize body temperature
Plasma is extracted because it can help others with:
- Clotting disorders
- Genetic lung and liver disease
- Infection response
- Treatments for dialysis, organ transplants, Rh incompatibility, tetanus and rabies
How Is Plasma Extracted from the Blood?
So how does the automated process of plasma donation, also called plasmapheresis, work? It goes like this:
- A high-tech machine extracts your whole blood.
- Your plasma is separated from your red blood cells and the other substances in your blood.
- Everything but your plasma is returned into your body along with a sterile saline solution that helps your body replace the plasma.
- The process takes about 90 minutes.
What Are the Risks Involved?
Plasma donation does carry some risks, as does blood extraction. You may experience side effects such as dizziness, fainting, dehydration, infection, bruising, discomfort and arterial puncture that can lead to bleeding and that may require emergency treatment.
You might also experience a citrate reaction, which is rare but serious. It stems from the loss of calcium and involves tingling or numbness, shivering, lightheadedness, slow pulse and shortness of breath, among other symptoms. If citrate reaction goes on unchecked, heightened symptoms may include vomiting, spasms or even cardiac arrest.
Who Gets To Donate?
In general, plasma donors must be:
- At least 18 years old and no more than 66-69 years old
- At least 110 pounds
- In good overall health
- Able to present valid documentation such as a driver’s license and Social Security number.
You’ll undergo an exam before your first donation and at least once a year afterward to ensure your overall good health.
There may also be special or local laws governing who can donate. For example, Nebraska donors must be at least 19 years old. If you’ve recently had a vaccination, you might not be able to donate for a certain amount of time, with the length of time depending on the center. Taking blood thinners or insulin can also make you ineligible to donate.
Frequency of Donation
You may be surprised at how often someone can donate plasma. Under some guidelines, it is every 28 days, which translates to 13 times a year. That said, each center has its own requirements, so check before beginning to donate. You will probably be able to donate twice per week as long as you have a rest day in between donations.
Compensation
Plasma centers may compensate their donors nicely and often run promotions. For instance, you may get more money for your first donation, and plasma donation centers tend to target first-time donors heavily in order to get them in the door.
Expect to be paid from $20 to $50 per donation and perhaps even more if you have the anti-D antibody. The more plasma you’re able to donate, the more cash you tend to get.
People who weigh more are able to donate more plasma. Weight compensation is based on if you weigh 110 to 149 pounds, 150 to 174 pounds, or 175 to 400 pounds.
Donor promotions can take forms such as coupons and raffle drawings. For example, donate 10 times from June 1 to July 31, and be entered into a raffle for three prizes: $200, $100 and $50. New donors might be promised as much as $250 for their first five donations.
Mode of Payment
Many donation centers pay their donors via debit card, and it’s possible your center lets you earn rewards points toward store gift cards. Other centers may pay in cash.
What Are the Popular Blood Donation Centers?
Here’s a look at the top five blood/plasma donation centers in the United States.
1. CSL Plasma
Description: This center is a division of plasma protein biotherapies company CSL Behring.
How much is the payout? How much does csl plasma pay? You may be able to earn up to $400 many months, depending on the promotions being held and how often you donate. You can also receive iGive points loaded onto your prepaid debit card.
Mode of payment: Prepaid debit card
Requirements needed by the center:
- Good health
- 18+ years old
- 110+ pounds
- No tattoos or piercings in the past 12 months
- Pass screening and eligibility tests
- Valid ID
- Permanent address
2. Octapharma Plasma
Description: This center is part of Octapharma AG, a company that makes plasma products.
How much is the payout? The payout depends on the specific plasma donation center. Potential donors should contact individual centers and inquire about their rates. You can also join OPI Rewards+ to qualify for tiered rewards.
Mode of payment: Prepaid debit card
Requirements needed by the center:
- Good health, able to do normal daily activities and feel well
- 18 to 66 years old
- Have a healthy arm vein for blood draws
- 110+ pounds
- No permanent makeup, body piercings, ear piercings or tattoos in the past 12 months
- Pass blood testing for HIV, syphilis and other diseases
This center has a special need for donors with Rh-negative blood.
3. Grifols Plasma
Description: Parent company Grifols was founded in 1940 by Dr. Jose Antonio Grifols Lucas in Spain. It’s a global company that uses plasma to enhance the lives of many patients.
How much is the payout? It’s about $20 to $50 per donation, with the average being $200 a month. Grifols also has a buddy bonus program where you earn money for referring donors.
Mode of payment: Prepaid debit card
Requirements needed by the center:
- 18 to 69 years old unless in Nebraska, then 19
- Valid photo ID
- Proof of Social Security number
- Proof of address
- Pass screening and physical exam
4. BioLife Plasma Services
Description: BioLife is under the umbrella of Shire, a biotech company that helps people who have specialized conditions and rare diseases.
How much is the payout? About $260 a month
Mode of payment: Prepaid debit card
Requirements needed by the center:
- 18+ years old
- 110+ pounds
- Good health
- Valid ID
- Adequate food and fluid intake
- Proof of address
- Pass medical screening
5. Biotest Plasma Centers
Description: The centers are part of Biotest Pharmaceuticals, which develop and make pharmaceutical and biotherapeutic products for immunology and hematology.
How much is the payout? Donors must contact individual centers to ask about rates. Promo coupons and referral programs may be available to help donors earn an extra $10 or $20.
Mode of payment: Unknown
Requirements needed by the center:
- 18+ years old
- 110+ pounds
- General good health
- Valid ID
- Valid Social Security number
- Adequate food and fluid intake the day of donation
- Proof of address
- Pass medical screening
Your Preparation
Virtually all donation centers encourage their donors to:
- Drink plenty of water before and after donating
- Avoid fatty and high-cholesterol foods
- Set aside extra time for the first donation
- Not drink alcohol before donating
- Eat a protein-rich meal three hours before donating
- Wear comfortable clothes with sleeves that can be pushed up to your shoulders
- Bring a book or tablet to help pass the time (centers should have free Wi-Fi)
What Should You Bring to a Blood Donor Center?
You should plan to bring documents such as:
- Picture ID (driver’s license, for example)
- Proof of permanent address
- Proof of your Social Security number
- List of medical conditions you have, medications you’re taking, and when you got any recent tattoos, body piercings and ear piercings
What To Expect During the Process
After you arrive at the donation center, you register yourself/check in. The greeter makes sure you have all required documents. You’ll answer some questions, either on paper or via a touchscreen, about your medical history and lifestyle.
Next is a health screening that includes taking your vital signs and checking your blood. First-time donors undergo a physical exam, and returning donors get one per year. Then there is the donation itself, which may take about an hour and 15 minutes to 90 minutes.
You usually don’t need to wait around for your rewards card to be loaded, nor do you necessarily need to have it with you (ask at the centers). The cards can be loaded remotely after your donation is complete.
What Should Be Done After Donating
After donating, best practices include:
- Drinking lots of water
- Refraining from smoking for at least 30 minutes
- Refraining from alcohol for at least four hours
- Exercising only moderately and not for long
- Donating again two days later
- Eating foods high in iron and protein
Wrapping Up
Plasma donation takes time and comes with some potential side effects, which is why donors are compensated. However, donating plasma also has its benefits. By donating, you get to enrich the lives of countless people and further the cause of medical research. In fact, you don’t even have to get paid to donate—you can volunteer to do so for free.
Enterprising folks have plenty of ways to make money, some more conventional than others. Donating plasma is one of the more unconventional methods and isn’t the same as donating blood. For one thing, plasma collection is automated, and your plasma is separated from your platelets and red blood cells. With blood donation, blood is usually drawn from a vein in your arm, and it’s not an automated process.
