The big business of blood plasma

If you donate blood, you can donate whole blood, or you can donate just plasma, the yellowish liquid that makes up half of blood volume. The idea of donating just plasma confused me until I learned that donation centers use a process called plasmapheresis. This process uses two lines, one that removes about a pint of blood and another that sends just the cells and platelets back into the body. In between, a machine separates the plasma from the rest of the blood ingredients. Because your body replenishes plasma within 48 hours, you can donate (or sell) up to twice a week.

Hospitals use plasma in transfusions to treat burns and liver failure, relying on donors who are not paid. Biopharmaceutical companies use it to manufacture life-saving drugs. Plasma that is used for medications does not need to be labeled as either voluntary or paid. Because of the high demand for plasma, there’s been a boom in for-profit plasma centers across the U.S. Two thirds of these centers are owned by one of three companies: CSL Plasma, Grifols, and BioLife. The centers are typically located in low rent strip malls.

The thousands of people who sell (“donate”) their plasma to these companies can make five times the federal minimum wage in the 90 minutes it takes to donate. The rates vary, but usually range between $50 and $75. Sellers can increase their earnings with bonuses for referrals, rewards programs, and incentives for those who donate twice a week. A study in Cleveland found that plasma sellers reported at least a third of their income that month came from their “donations.” They spent their earnings on gas, rent, phone bills, food, and student loans. If you’ve had Covid and your blood contains the Covid 19 antibodies, you could make as much as $200 in a single visit. Some people have intentionally tried to contract the virus in hopes of upping their income.

Americans supply two-thirds of the world’s blood plasma. It’s not hard to guess the source of that supply.

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