Plasma Donation Requirements

Blood cells remain suspended in the yellowish liquid component of blood, known as blood plasma. It makes up for about 55 % of the total blood volume, and contains about 90% water. The remaining 10% is made up of dissolved proteins, glucose, clotting factors, mineral ions, hormones, and carbon dioxide.

Blood serum is different from plasma which is nothing but blood plasma without fibrinogen or the other clotting factors. Plasmapheresis is the medical procedure which involves blood plasma extraction, treatment, and reintegration.

You need to donate plasma at a licensed and certified donation center. One of the most important fact about plasma donation is that on average, a plasma donor offers 0.8 liter of plasma per visit, and about 130 plasma donations are required to keep one patient with primary immunodeficiency healthy for 1 year'.

This explains why blood donation is considered as an important and noble task. Some of the donation rules are controversial, for instance, restricting donations from men who have sex with men, for HIV risk. The general requirements for plasma donation are:

• You should be at least 18 years of age and weigh at least 110 pounds or 50 kg.
• In case of allergies or cold-like symptoms, you may not be allowed to donate plasma.
• In case of blood transfusion, you may be eligible for plasma donation, 12 months after the taking any blood product.

• Use of antibiotics may be allowed depending on the reason for which you are taking the antibiotics.
• Women may donate plasma during menstruation but not when they are pregnant. They may also donate plasma if they are taking birth control medications.

• In case of severe case of acne on the day of donation (extensive inflammation and pus-filled skin lesions) you may not be to donate plasma.

• A photo, a signature, date of birth, and social security number are required for identification. Proof of your permanent local address may also be required.

• If physical and mental effects of chronic alcohol usage are detected, you may not be allowed to donate plasma. Drinking alcohol on the day of donation is also not allowed.

• Your eligibility will also depend upon the reason and type of immunization/vaccination recently received, and the presence of any symptoms prior to donation.

• If you have donated platelets for another donation program, you will not be allowed to donate plasma at the same time. You can participate in only one program (e.g. plasma or platelets) at one time.

• If you have arthritis, you are supposed to submit a confirmation letter written by your physician about the type and severity of your condition and your treatment. Your doctors approval is essential for you to donate plasma.

• Taking medications does not make you unfit to donate plasma. Your eligibility mostly depends on the type and severity of the medical condition(s) for which you are being treated. Some collection centers may disqualify you even if you carry a family history of cancer.

• A recent piercing may also disqualify you from donating plasma, depending on the type of procedure used and whether or not the piercing shows any sign of infection. Similarly, a person who has had a tattoo recently may not donate plasma for a period of 4-12 months depending upon the state in which the tattoo was applied.

• You have to go through a brief medical examination, extensive medical history screening, and tests for transmissible viruses. Blood pressure, pulse, temperature, protein level, hemoglobin count, etc will also be checked. Questions regarding possible exposure to certain infectious diseases, such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis may be asked.

• Requirements for donation may vary according to the diseases and severity of the condition. For instance, the type and severity of asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, seizures, convulsions, flu, sore throat, high cholesterol, high/low blood pressure, autoimmune diseases, heart diseases, kidney diseases, etc., will be taken into consideration.

The list does not end here. Various other factors may also be taken into consideration while determining the eligibility of the person for donation, for example, organ transplant, tissue transplant, xenotransplant material (animal to human), visit to another countries, recent surgeries, dental procedures, etc.

Donating plasma frequently may lead to serious health complications. Following a healthy diet and drinking plenty of water may help avoid these side effects of donation. Common side effects of donation include dizziness, fainting, nausea, etc. The aforementioned list of requirement is given to ensure the safety of the donor and the recipient.