![]() ![]() Unexpectedly, with no apparent cause or logical relationship to physical exertion, I felt my legs go rubbery. It happened at about five o’clock the next day. centers ubiquitously states that “donating plasma is safe.” Its side effects are limited to “mild faintness and bruising.” (My brochure also added, “Other possible side effects will be explained by our medical staff,” though I can’t say any such explanation stayed with me.) But the following day my body received an impromptu schooling in the price tag of the world I had entered. I left with a ray of hope that I could “plass” next month’s rent money. You’ll pass” attitude may have expressed condescension, unprofessionalism, or benevolence. ![]() Did he know how desperate I was? His “Don’t worry. Curiously, while my examiner hurried me through the screening, he did patiently lay out the payment scheme. Plassers receive payments on a special debit card that extracts a surcharge whenever they use it. I spotted a sign: NO PAYMENT UNLESS DONATION IS COMPLETED. But I questioned its efficiency given that my examiner ran through scores of questions so fast I had to ask him to repeat himself. After the clinicians tested a blood sample for protein levels, I underwent a bare-bones medical checkup. Three times I was asked if I had lied and “really” had tattoos. I was not surprised by the many questions about my sexual behavior, but I was taken aback by repeated questions regarding tattoos. All were like me-hopeful, needy, and impatient to get paid. Easily 50 to 60 “plassers” were present at any given moment, the crowd continually ebbing and flowing. There were first-timers waiting to complete the initial medical exam, and regulars hurrying to check in at automatic computer terminals. The facility I entered buzzed like a school lunchroom. Regulars call it “plassing.” The ad I’d seen featuring smiling attendants suggested an experience similar to one at a sedate hospital. That was when I saw an ad offering $50 per plasma donation: blood money, or more specifically, payment for my time and any small pain involved in the process of having protein-rich plasma extracted from the blood. I was 48 years old, a journalist running short on cash from writing assignments and odd jobs. A clinician instructed us both to pump and relax our fists, like cows milking our own udders.īefore leaving I received a calendar that mapped out my pay, if I maintained a twice-weekly schedule for subsequent donations. “My house is so noisy with four kids so I come here for my relaxation,” said a middle-aged, haggard-looking woman on the next couch, the plasmapheresis machine at her side whirring. He separated my plasma from my whole blood into a large bottle, and returned my protein-depleted blood, which flowed back into my arm to rebuild my nutrient supply. A white-coated attendant (workers aren’t required to have medical or nursing degrees) pricked my arm. If you experience these, contact the CSL Plasma center.That was how I found myself laying in a plasma “donation” room filled with about 40 couches, each equipped with a blood pressure cuff and a centrifuge. Signs of infection include pain, swelling, or feeling of warmth at the site of the needle insertion. Donating plasma comes with a slight risk of infection. If you’re uncomfortable, you can speak with a clinician. Bruising may occur at the site of the needle insertion, and you could experience some discomfort during the donation process. If you experience dehydration or electrolyte imbalances, you may also experience tiredness after donating plasma. ![]() Donating plasma may cause mild electrolyte imbalances because plasma contains a lot of salts, vitamins, and minerals (electrolytes) that help your body’s functions. Because plasma contains water, removing it may cause donors to experience mild dehydration after donation. Short-term plasma donation side effects include: ![]() For healthy adults who meet the donation eligibility requirements, donating plasma is generally a safe medical procedure, however you may face mild immediate side effects. ![]()
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