How To Make Money Donating Plasma (2024)

Do you want to learn how to make money donating plasma? Plasma is the liquid portion of your blood and is important for many functions in the body. Plasma helps people with all kinds of medical conditions and can be a life-saving act, which is why there are hundreds of donation centers around the United…

Do you want to learn how to make money donating plasma?

Plasma is the liquid portion of your blood and is important for many functions in the body.

Plasma helps people with all kinds of medical conditions and can be a life-saving act, which is why there are hundreds of donation centers around the United States paying people to donate their plasma.

In this article, I’ll go over how to make money donating plasma, and you will learn:

  • What is plasma
  • How much you can get paid for donating plasma
  • Where to donate plasma
  • Who is and is not eligible to donate plasma
  • How long it takes to donate plasma

Recommended reading: How To Make $50 A Day

How To Make Money Donating Plasma

Below is what you need to know about making money donating plasma.

What is plasma?

Plasma is the liquid part of your blood. It is mostly made of water but also has proteins, electrolytes, hormones, and waste. Plasma’s job is to carry nutrients, hormones, and waste to and from cells. It helps keep blood pressure and pH balance in check. Plasma also carries antibodies, which help keep your immune system strong.

How much do you get paid to donate plasma?

The amount you get paid for donating plasma varies depending on where you’re donating plasma. Also, some donation centers will give bonuses for first-time donors or for people who donate a certain number of times.

On average, donors can receive between $20-$50 per donation session.

What is the plasma donation process?

Donating plasma is pretty easy and has just a few steps. First, you need to pass a health check to make sure you can donate (I’ll explain this more later). If you pass, you can start donating. You’ll sit in a comfy spot where you can watch Netflix, listen to music, or use your iPad or phone.

Then, a needle is inserted into the vein in your arm and blood gets drawn into a machine. This machine separates plasma from other blood components and then sends the remaining blood components back to your body. The process takes about 1-2 hours and donors are provided with fluids and snacks to get their energy levels back.

Who can donate plasma?

To be eligible to donate plasma, you must:

  • Be in general good health
  • Weigh at least 110 pounds
  • Be between the ages of 18-69
  • Pass a health screening
  • Not have HIV or Hepatitis

Who cannot donate plasma?

Not everyone can donate plasma. You aren’t eligible to donate plasma if you have:

  • Tested positive for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, or other blood-borne infections
  • Recently gotten surgery, received a blood transfusion, or gotten tattoos or piercings in a specific timeframe
  • Have high blood pressure, low iron levels, are pregnant, or breastfeeding

Best Places To Make Money Donating Plasma

Here are 5 places you can donate plasma.

1. CSL Plasma

CSL Plasmais one of the common donation centers and you’ve likely seen one in your neighborhood. To get started donating with CSL Plasma, you need to bring a photo ID, social security card, and proof of residency (a piece of mail postmarked in the last 60 days, current lease, or utility bill will work).

You also want to make sure you drink plenty of water, eat a meal, and get a good night’s sleep before your visit. You can check here to find the closest donation center near you.

Benefits of donating through CSL Plasma include:

  • You can get up to $100 for your first donation (depending on the location)
  • Your payment is loaded to a prepaid card and can be used right away
  • Free WIFI while completing the plasma donation

With over 300 CSL Plasma locations, you’ll likely find a donation center near you. If you cannot find a CSL Plasma center in your area, try out the other donation centers listed below.

2. BioLife Plasma Services

BioLife Plasma Services is a plasma donation center that pays donors for their plasma.

To get started donating with BioLife, sign up on their website to become a donor. This is where you’ll create an appointment for your first donation session. At your first appointment, you will go through a health screening where your vitals will be measured, and receive a brief physical exam.

BioLife is a little different from other plasma donation centers because this company also has a loyalty program. This loyalty program rewards frequent donors and provides ways to earn points toward rewards like gift cards, charitable donations, or additional funds. You can earn points by donating plasma, referring other donors, donating seven times in one calendar month, donating for three consecutive months, and donating for six consecutive months.

3. Grifols Plasma

Grifols Plasma is a plasma donation center with over 300 donation centers in the U.S.

To get started donating plasma at Girfols, you will need to fill out a form here and learn about the donation process, including the eligibility criteria. At your first donation, you need to bring a photo I.D., social security card, proof of current address, and a list of medications you’re taking.

All Grifols Plasma locations have free WIFI access for donors, so you can watch Netflix or browse the web while donating plasma. Grifols has a few tips for successful plasma donation including:

  • Limiting caffeine on the day of donation
  • Not drinking alcohol the day of or the day before the donation
  • Drink at least 12-24 ounces of water 60 minutes before your donation
  • Avoid foods high in saturated fat (burgers, chips, pizza) the night before your donation
  • Avoid tobacco use
  • Get a good night’s rest the night before

4. Octapharma Plasma

Octapharma Plasma is a popular plasma donation center with over 190 locations around the United States.

Octapharma Plasma works similarly to the other plasma donation centers mentioned above. Octapharma Plasma also has a loyalty program called OctaRewards to entice donors to donate plasma. This rewards program lets you earn points for donating plasma, referring your friends, reaching new status levels, having a birthday, and more. Your points are eligible for free gift cards.

Find your local Octapharma Plasma donation center by entering your zip code here.

5. DonatingPlasma.org

DonatingPlasma.org is not a donation center, but a website where you can find all kinds of plasma donor resources and locations to donate plasma. With over 1,000 plasma donation centers in the United States, you can probably find a plasma donation center near you.

Find a plasma donation center near you by entering your zipcode here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are common questions on how to make money donating plasma.

How much money do you get for donating plasma the first time?

The amount of money you make from donating plasma for the first time depends on the donation center. Also, different donation centers have promotions going, so you need to check that as well. First-time donors may expect to make anywhere between $20-$100 for their first donation.

Is donating plasma a good way to make money?

Donating plasma can be a good way to earn extra money while also helping out your community. You can donate plasma up to twice a week, which can provide a steady source of side income.

Who pays the most for plasma?

CSL Plasma and BioLife are the most popular plasma companies and are known for giving the most money to donors. These donation centers may also give bonuses to first-time donors, frequent donor rewards, and other special promotions.

How often can you donate plasma?

There are rules to how often you can donate. In the U.S., you can donate 1 time in 2 days and up to twice a week. This is because your body needs time to replenish plasma levels.

This means if you donate on Monday, you can’t donate again until Wednesday or after.

Is it safe to donate plasma twice a week?

The FDA recommends donating at most twice a week. If you donate plasma more than this, you may experience side effects like fatigue and dehydration.

What would disqualify you from donating plasma?

Certain things will disqualify you from donating plasma including having medical conditions like HIV, Hepatitis, or other blood-borne infections. Recent tattoos or piercings within the last 12 months can also make you ineligible for donating plasma. Low or high blood pressure, low iron levels, and certain medications can make you ineligible for donation.

What are the downsides of donating plasma?

The downsides of donating plasma include potential dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue, and dehydration. This is also a time commitment that takes 1-2 hours each time you donate plasma.If you don’t like needles, that’s another downside.

Does donating plasma hurt?

Donating plasma feels similar to getting your blood drawn for routine labs or donating blood. When the blood is returned to your body, you might feel a tingling sensation.

How long does it take to donate plasma?

Donating plasma takes about 1-2 hours each time, with the first appointment for a new donor being the longest because of the initial health screening and paperwork.

Does the American Red Cross pay for plasma?

The American Red Cross does not pay donors for plasma donation. Instead, they focus on blood donations and do not compensate donors for this donation.

Why do you get paid for plasma, but not blood?

Donating plasma needs special equipment and takes more time, so centers pay donors for their plasma. Blood donation is simpler and doesn’t need as many resources, so it’s easier to get volunteer donors.

How To Make Money Donating Plasma – Summary

I hope you enjoyed this article on how to make money donating plasma.

The best places to donate plasma include CSL Plasma, BioLife, Grifols Plasma, and others listed above. These donation centers have made it as easy as possible to get started donating plasma and pay you quickly.

Donating plasma is a great way to help other people in your community, so that’s another bonus!

Are you interested in donating your plasma for money?

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How To Make Money Donating Plasma (2024)

FAQs

How to get the most money from donating plasma? ›

Paid plasma collection in the U.S. can bring $30 to $70 per donation. With incentives, some people can make $400 or more per month. Committed repeat donors who give at the maximum, twice-a-week frequency can sometimes earn up to $1,000 a month, depending on the plasma center.

What questions do you have to answer to donate plasma? ›

To determine if you are eligible to donate we will:
  • Ask about your health and travel.
  • Ask about medicines you are taking or have taken.
  • Ask about your risk for infections that can be transmitted by blood—especially AIDS and viral hepatitis.
  • Take your blood pressure, temperature and pulse.

Is donating plasma worth the money? ›

When you're financially strapped, selling plasma can be an appealing option to drum up some quick cash. Pharmaceutical companies often pay around $50 per donation for the pale-yellow blood component, a key ingredient in medications that treat immune disorders and other illnesses.

Which plasma company pays the most? ›

BioLife Plasma Services is among the top payers in the plasma donation industry. New donors at BioLife can earn up to $900 in their first month through various promotions and bonuses. This high payout is broken down into specific bonuses for each of the initial donations.

Do you make more money donating plasma if you weigh more? ›

After that, our earnings decreased depending on our weight; the more someone weighs, the more they earn, presumably because you can usually give more plasma. For example, my husband passed his eight-donation mark and started making $50 to $60 per visit, while I would only earn $40 to $45 each time.

What makes donating plasma go faster? ›

5 tips for donating plasma faster
  1. Stay hydrated. Although the donation process takes about 90 minutes, there is an easy way to speed up the process – HYDRATE! ...
  2. Eat well. Did you know you can get some water intake through your food? ...
  3. Stay relaxed. ...
  4. Use a ball or squeezer. ...
  5. Use KEDExpress (saves 10 minutes)

Is there a downside to selling plasma? ›

For most people, donating plasma does not cause any side effects, but some donors can experience fatigue, bruising, bleeding, or dehydration. Additionally, you may feel dizzy or lightheaded. While not typical, fainting can also occur. It's rare, but more serious infections or reactions can occur, which can be treated.

What prevents you from donating plasma? ›

Those diagnosed with a serious or chronic illness–like high blood pressure, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, or a primary immunodeficiency (PI)–are not eligible to donate plasma. Those who have high blood pressure would need to be tested to see what their current blood pressure is at the time of donating.

Can donating plasma make you lose weight? ›

People burn around 500 calories1 from a blood or plasma donation as the body uses energy to replace the donation.

Should I switch arms when donating plasma? ›

Only one of your arms is used to withdraw blood, separate out the platelets, and return the rest of the blood to you. Your other arm is free to turn pages in a book, click on a laptop keyboard, or scratch an itch during the 70 to 90 minute donation procedure.

What plasma is most in demand? ›

There are four major blood groups: A, B, AB and O. Donors who are blood group AB are special plasma donors because their plasma can be given to any of the other blood types. Because of this, AB plasma is frequently in high demand.

What if my veins are too small to donate plasma? ›

Your veins will be assessed at your medical, and if they doctors think they're too small to be used for the donation, they'll let you know then that you will need a central line. On the day of your donation, your veins will be reassessed to see if things have changed.

How can I increase my plasma volume for donation? ›

Limiting alcohol and caffeine intake and eating a protein- and iron-rich diet in the days before your appointment can help your body prepare for donation. Eating a healthy snack or meal a few hours before your appointment and staying hydrated is also helpful.

Is donating plasma considered earned income? ›

Current CalFresh policy states that donation of blood/plasma should be counted as Unearned Income.

How much to donate plasma in Chicago? ›

Donation fees will be paid in the following order $90, $90, $90, $100, $100, $110, $110 and $110. Initial donation must be completed by 9.10. 23 and subsequent donations within 30 days.

What is the most plasma you can donate? ›

Each donation yields approximately 625 to 800 milliliters of plasma. Federal regulations allow individuals to donate plasma as often as twice in seven days if the donations occur two days apart from each other.

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