By Jana Wiersema, Features Editor
Asbury University students spend their summers in a lot of different ways — on mission trips, internships, paid summer jobs or volunteer work. This past summer, some students found an unusual way to make money: by donating plasma from their blood.
Redeat Amare of the Visionary class first heard about the plasma donation from some of the friends that he stayed with over the summer in Lexington.
“For the first couple of times that you do it, it’s great money,” Amare said. He said that the first four times he donated at CSL Plasma, he was paid $75, $60, $75 and $60. He added that there is a bonus for referrals: Referred donors make an extra $5 the first five times they donate, and those who refer them also make an extra $5 each time the referred donor donates.
Amare said that after the first four times you donate plasma, the amount of money you are paid depends on weight. In his weight class, he earns $25 the first time he donates in one week and $40 the second time he donates that week. Christian Williamson of the Merciful class, who is also a CSL Plasma donor, stated that you have to be a minimum of 150 pounds to donate plasma.
CSL Plasma’s website states that per regulations from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, “the maximum frequency you can donate plasma is once in a two-day period — and no more than twice in a seven-day period.” Donors must be no younger than 18 and no older than 65, according to CSL Plasma.
Amare said before donating plasma, you should stay hydrated and eat a lot of protein — he suggested that three scoops of peanut butter should do it — and after donating, you should get something to eat. He stated that each visit begins with a written test, blood tests for iron levels, a temperature check, medical tests and, on occasion, random drug tests.
According to Healthline, blood plasma is used for “immune system conditions, bleeding and respiratory disorders, as well as blood transfusions and wound healing.” Once the plasma is donated, “other components of the blood, such as the red blood cells, are returned to your body mixed with saline to replace the withdrawn plasma.”
“I never had a bad experience with it — met some nice people there, too,” Amare said.
However, Amare did note that some of his friends have had a few mishaps occur during a donation. One woman wasn’t able to have her blood returned back to her; one woman’s blood was drawn incorrectly, and she became lightheaded, so they stopped the donation process; and another woman decided not to go through with it. Amare said that in each case, the women were still paid in spite of what happened.
According to Healthline, possible side effects of plasma donation include dehydration, dizziness, fainting, lightheadedness, fatigue, bruising, discomfort and infection. Rarer but more serious side effects include citrate reactions and arterial punctures.
Both Amare and Williamson said that donating plasma was not their main job over the summer but a way to earn some extra money.
“This isn’t a new thing that’s just popped up within the last couple years,” Williamson said. “Many of our parents have donated plasma when they were in college. I think it’s a good way for college students to make a little extra cash on the side while helping save lives at the same time.”
