Giving plasma is a good way to get fast cash
Giving plasma is something almost anyone can do. Many people give plasma for the reason of getting some fast cash, but what is really involved with giving plasma?
Autumn Bertschinger, a two-year employee at Western Plasma, and a senior studying communications, said Western Plasma has had a location in Logan since 1999. Bertschinger said some of the employees give plasma on a regular basis. The manager of Western Plasma, Britney Pitcher, said plasma donations have been going on since World War II.
“Basically, everyone can do it,” Bertschinger said.
Most people are permitted to give plasma. The exceptions include those who take certain medications or those with specific health problems.
People from some foreign countries, or people who have been temporarily in those countries may not be permitted to give blood, but are able to give plasma.
Pitcher said giving plasma is a safe procedure, and it’s very rare for things to get cross-contaminated in the process.
As long as people eat before they give plasma they usually won’t get weak or have a stomachache, Bertschinger said.
Jessica Smith, a three-year patient at Western Plasma, said, “It’s like one step of a prostitution, selling your body, but it’s OK.”
Smith said it hurts a little when they stick in the needle, but after that it doesn’t hurt at all. Smith said to make sure you eat before if you come in, because a couple of times she hasn’t and she got sick.
Rarely, patients are diagnosed with false positives – times in which a patient is diagnosed with something they do not have, Bershchinger said.
Bertschinger said a person who goes to donate plasma can make $20 their first time giving plasma, $30 the second time, and $20 each additional time. Bershchinger said people can go twice in a seven-day period and make an average of $40 per week.
Smith said it’s nice because donors make $20 in about an hour and a half.
After taken, the plasma is sent to Austria for tests, and helps in the making of medications, Pitcher said. The medications are not only beneficial to Austria but to Americans as well, she said, because they send the medications back after
manufacturing.
Plasma is commonly used in society today. According to the American Blood Resources Association, some of the medical products produced from plasma research include: Albumin, used for restoration of plasma during shock, trauma, surgery and burns; Hepatitis B Immune Globulin, which immunizes someone with an exposure to hepatitis B; Rabies Immune Globulin, used for someone exposed to rabies and Varicella-Zoster Immune Globulin, which is an immunization to prevent chicken pox.
Bertschinger said people can just come in and watch a movie or do homework while giving plasma.
“Plasma is used to save lives and also it helps pay bills,” Bertschinger said.
-amysueh@cc.usu.edu