Students make blood prostitution a second income
“I sell my body for money,” David Seegmiller said.
While this may seem like a shocking confession from a Utah State University student, he is not alone. Seegmiller, a senior majoring in computer science, like many USU students, donates plasma for cash.
“It’s all about the money,” he said. “And it doesn’t take much [effort]. You lay down and endure a little bit of pain for an hour and get paid 20 bucks.”
Jacob Harris, assistant manager at Western Plasma, said 70 to 80 percent of the company’s clientele are USU students.
“It’s an easy way to make some good money,” he said.
Western Plasma, the only company of its kind in Logan, pays donors $20 each visit, and the process takes one to one-and-one-half hours. People can donate twice a week, as long as they meet certain requirements.
The first time someone goes in to donate, he fills out a basic medical history. He is asked about medications he’s taking, any tattoos or body piercings, vaccinations and where he’s traveled.
If people have lived in certain parts of Europe or Africa for more than six months, they cannot donate plasma or blood.
People who make it past the first check come in again for a physical and in-depth medical history, to which they must bring three forms of ID. These regulations are set by the Food and Drug Administration.
“It’s well-regulated as to who can and can’t donate,” Harris said.
Each time a donor comes in to give plasma, his finger is pricked, and his blood is tested to make sure he has enough protein and is hydrated and healthy.
Harris said most of the people who donate at Western Plasma are regulars, and Seegmiller said he tries to go in the maximum of twice a week.
The needle, which is about one inch long and the same size as those used for blood donations, hurts a little as it goes in, but the overall process isn’t very painful, Seegmiller said.
The main side effect of donating plasma is dehydration, because plasma is the fluid part of the blood, Harris said. Cookies and juice are available to the donors.
“As long as they are keeping themselves hydrated, it shouldn’t affect them at all,” he said. “Some people faint, but a lot of it is just psyching themselves out.”
When the needle is removed, a patch is put over the wound, and it is wrapped up. Seegmiller said it doesn’t bleed much as long as the wrap is left on for the recommended two hours.
Those who give plasma are considered donors, even though they are paid.
“The money we give them isn’t taxed,” Harris said. “We just give them something to say thanks for taking the time. It’s still considered a donation.
“The Red Cross has been around for a long time, and the money is an incentive for people to come over from donating blood.”
He said much of the blood donated to the Red Cross is also used for plasma, but it just goes through a different channel.
Depending on the donor’s weight, between 705 and 903 grams of plasma are taken each time. The donor lies down and is hooked up to a centrifuge machine. The machine draws the blood from the arm, removes the plasma, and then puts the red blood cells back into the donor.
The donors read or watch movies, which are shown on TVs mounted on the ceiling. How long they wait to donate varies.
“It depends on when donors decide to come in,” said Briana Tedrow, a receptionist at Western Plasma. “We work on a first-come, first-served basis.”
Seegmiller said the usual wait is 10 to 15 minutes, but the worst part about donating is having to lie still for an hour while pumping his arm.
Western Plasma seems eager to calm any fear members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints may have about donating. The first things people see as they walk in the door are two framed pictures, one of Joseph Fielding Smith and one of Russell M. Nelson, both leaders in the Mormon faith.
Under each is a quote about giving blood. Smith’s includes the following: “Are we not all grateful for the development of blood transfusions and the benefit coming from blood plasma …”
Nelson’s photo is above a story he told about he and his wife selling blood when they were first married and short on cash.
The plasma donated at Western Plasma is sold to Octapharma, an Austrian-based company, for “quite a bit of profit,” Harris said.
Pharmaceutical companies use plasma to make various medications, and antibodies are used to make vaccines. The clotting factor concentrate is used to help people who have hemophilia, a disease which keeps their blood from clotting properly. The plasma can also be used to correct protein loss that follows major surgery or post-burn therapy.
Western Plasma is located at 1061 N. Main St. and is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. The company can be reached at 753-7802.
–kcartwright@cc.usu.edu