To donate plasma, individuals must meet certain criteria and follow specific rules. Donors must be in good health, have no history of high-risk behaviors, and meet age and weight requirements. Testing involves a physical exam, blood pressure check, and sometimes a blood test. Donors with low blood pressure may be ineligible, and those with high blood pressure may need to wait after stopping medication.
To be eligible to donate plasma, you must meet a number of criteria and follow some specific rules to maintain your eligibility. The plasma donation process involves careful screening of each new potential donor in order to minimize the possibility of disease transmission. Good candidates for donating plasma are individuals in good general health with no history of illegal drug use or other high-risk behaviors often associated with contracted conditions such as hepatitis or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Most plasma donation banks also have minimum requirements for the donor’s age and body weight.
When you first start the donation process, you’ll likely need to provide at least one government-issued photo ID, such as a passport. Some plasma donation malls may also require proof of a local address; a recent piece of mail showing your name is often all that is required. Plasma donors usually must be between the ages of 18 and 65 and live within 125 miles (about 201 kilometers) of their local donor bank.
Testing before donating plasma typically involves a basic physical exam and asking questions about your current health. A donation center staff member usually records your weight, temperature, pulse, and blood pressure. Sometimes a finger prick blood test is also done to make sure you don’t have anemia, as too little iron in the blood can often present a health risk when trying to donate plasma. Some plasma bank examiners may also ask about any visible scars you may have from past surgeries or healed injuries.
Potential donors are generally required to weigh a minimum of 110 pounds (about 50 kg) to be eligible. If you have recently had a tattoo or piercing anywhere on your body, you may have to wait up to a year before you become eligible as a plasma donor. During eligibility screening, you may sometimes be asked to list all the piercings you’ve ever had, even if some have healed.
Donors with low blood pressure are often ineligible to donate plasma until their tested blood pressure reaches a low level. Side effects such as dizziness and fainting can sometimes occur soon after someone with low blood pressure donates plasma. If you have high blood pressure and are taking medication to control it, you may need to wait a few weeks after stopping the medication before donating plasma.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
