Misconceptions about Donating Plasma
Dear Editor,In response to the article “Giving Plasma Means Money For Some Students” from March 2, 2005 I would like to clear up a few misconceptions and fallacies about what happens to the plasma once it’s been donated. First of all, the use of the plasma collected for pay must be considered. There are two types of plasma collection centers; the local blood bank centers, and commercial plasma centers. Only blood banks such as The American Red Cross and MountainStar Blood Services (based out of Ogden Regional Medical Center) are authorized to collect plasma for transfusions. The plasma from this first type goes to helping accident victims and others with blood diseases. Commercial plasma centers such as Western Plasma and BioLife Plasma Services (also in Ogden) sell their collected units to pharmaceutical companies that use it to manufacture drugs (most of which are used to treat rabies and snake bite victims.) Donors from this commercial type are paid for their donations. It is true that plasma from commercial centers will indirectly help patients, but one must keep in mind that it will not be through direct methods, such as transfusion, to cancer patients and hemophiliacs, as stated in the article. Also, the clotting factors, which are used by hemophiliacs, come primarily from platelets, not plasma. Consequentially, there are also platelet apherisis procedures, which are done at Ogden Regional. I am extremely familiar with both types of centers and do not favor one over the other. I do, however, find it important that donors and, potential donors alike, understand what happens to their plasma/blood. Both types of centers have an extreme need for donations so it’s up to you where you go. If you’re in it for the money then, by all means, do it! It would be a great thing. If you’re in it for the sincere desire to help people out then decide how you’d like to do it. For more information, check out http://www.donate-blood.com/site2/content/donating/plasma.asp and http://www.bloodbook.com/plasma-pool.html
Ian Whipple529735960(435) 752-4240