Step 1. Pre-Donation Screening

Each donor, regardless of how long he or she has been donating, must pass a pre-donation screening at every appointment.  During a screening, you will be weighed and a technician will take your blood pressure, pulse and temperature.  He or she will also take a little blood from your finger to measure your total protein and hematocrit.  Hematocrit is the percentage of blood volume occupied by red blood cells.  These measurements will tell us if it is safe for you to donate.

Step 2. Medical History

After we check your vital signs, we ask you some routine personal and health questions to make sure that the donation is safe for you and for the patient who receives treatment made from your plasma.

Step 3. Physical Examination

As a first-time donor, and annually, you will receive a brief physical examination.  This is administered by our on-site medical staff and the information is used to verify you are eligible to donate, based on your health and medical history.

Step 4. The Plasmapheresis Process

After we prepare the automated plasma collection device with a new and sterile kit, we connect you to the machine and start the plasma collecting process.  When you donate plasma, you are not at risk of acquiring any sort of disease.  The tubing and all other pieces of the collection device that come in contact with your blood are discarded and replaced with new, sterile materials each time a donation is performed.

Step 5. Compensation

After your donation, you will be compensated for your time.  The whole process for return donors takes about 1 1/2 hours.  New donors may take 2 hours as your first visit includes a physical exam.

Step 6. Set up your next appointment

On your way out, you are reminded to set up an appointment for your next donation.  You can donate as often as twice in a seven-day period, with at least 48 hours between donations.

Plasma Frequently asked Questions