# giving blood **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 26, 2001, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-blood/73905 "2001-07-26T23:37:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2001, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-blood/73905/1 "2001-07-26T23:37:29Z")
I’m short on cash and thinking about giving blood and/or plasma. What does this involve? Why do you have to rest afterwards? Is it safe? ---
**Author:** ![Strainger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strainger/32/244_2.png) [@Strainger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strainger)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-blood/73905/2 "2001-07-27T00:02:44Z")
[This](http://www.redcross.org/services/biomed/blood/learn/expect.html) should answer most of your questions. ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-blood/73905/3 "2001-07-27T00:05:54Z")
It involves answering some health questions, undergoing a short exam (finger-stick for hemocrit, blood pressure, pulse, temperature), and then lying still while they drain a pint. I’ve never given plasma, but I’ve donated platelets, which I suppose is similar. Giving blood is a lot quicker, since they don’t have to put any of your blood back in. You have to rest afterwards because a small number of people have a reaction after donating. Usually, that would just be lightheadedness, but could get as bad as fainting. It is perfectly safe. Any equipment that contacts you is one-time-use, so there is no chance whatsoever of anything being transmitted to you. The only danger would be if you have problems with uncontrolled bleeding (hemophilia), and that would get you screened out before they put in a needle. ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-blood/73905/4 "2001-07-27T00:10:06Z")
You forgot the most important question of all: What does it pay? I’ve thought about this issue a lot recently, given the ratcheted-up appeals for blood donations here in anemic NYC. None of the desperate media pleas ever mention cash returns; and all my pals who have given via corporate blood drives have gotten anything but lame-ass cookies and lollipops. So I’m wondering if the time-honored cliche of the down-on-his funds college kid or the DT-wracked alcy selling a pint-o’-plasma for 50 bucks has gone the way of the butterchurn and the hand-cranked fliver ---
**Author:** ![tygre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@tygre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tygre)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-blood/73905/5 "2001-07-27T03:55:36Z")
Oh, you can still sell plasma. In IL in 95 when I was flat broke, I donated 2x a week and made about $25 from it. Took about an hour or so each time, and they gave out cookies and juice, too. They only take the plasma, and the platelets and blood cells are fed back into your arm, so that’s why you can do it more frequently than giving blood. AFA $$ for blood, I have only heard about this for people with very rare blood types, like AB-. –tygre ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-blood/73905/6 "2001-07-27T04:51:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Saltire \* > **You have to rest afterwards because a small number of people have a reaction after donating. Usually, that would just be lightheadedness, but could get as bad as fainting.** I sold my plasma a few times in college. It didn’t affect me, but my friend really got affected by it. Everytime he did it he’d get up and pass out. WOOMP! Right on the floor. Maybe it’s 'cause he was a real skinny guy. One time, after bringing him too, he told me that while he was out he had a real funky hallucination that he was skiing. ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-blood/73905/7 "2001-07-27T05:35:23Z")
Generally, places that pay you for plasma are using it for the manufacture of products that may eventually be used in medical settings. The plasma itself doesn’t get transfused to patients. Transfused plasma comes from donated units of blood. (One donated unit will make one unit of packed red cells, one unit of platelets and one unit of fresh frozen plasma when separated.) People aren’t paid for blood donation usually. At least I know they aren’t in my area and in fact it is prohibited to offer remuneration for blood donation. I’m not certain why that is but possibly there are worries about drug abusers, having a higher risk of some blood-transmitted disease, trying to donate for cash. ---
**Author:** ![Keko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@Keko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keko)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-blood/73905/8 "2001-07-27T06:36:48Z")
vanilla, if you’re a GUY, you can make some money donating _other_ bodily fluids too. There’s no fainting involved and it might be more fun for you 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Chas.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-blood/73905/9 "2001-07-27T08:12:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Saltire \* > **You have to rest afterwards because a small number of people have a reaction after donating. Usually, that would just be lightheadedness, but could get as bad as fainting.** Or worse. I know someone who had a terrible reaction to the injection she got when donating plasma or platelets or something, I don’t know the full details, she wouldn’t tell me, but apparently she slipped through the screening of some condition that they would never have allowed her to donate if they knew she had it. She got ended up in the hospital, fought off anemia for several months, then I lost track of her. The last time I saw her, she looked like death warmed over. I’m not trying to scare you off of donating or anything, but I personally would never donate anything but raw blood, I’m sure as hell not letting them inject me with anything, after seeing what happened to her. ---
**Author:** ![LorieSmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a587f6/32.png) [@LorieSmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LorieSmurf)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-blood/73905/10 "2001-07-27T08:56:51Z")
Um…why would they “inject” you with anything when donating blood, plasma, or platelets? My understanding is they don’t “inject” you with anything…they put a needle in your arm and drain stuff out of you, or in the case of blood component donation just give you back your own cells that they didn’t need. Or am I missing something here? Lorie ---
**Author:** ![FarmerOak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@FarmerOak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FarmerOak)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-blood/73905/11 "2001-07-27T09:01:02Z")
Man, **tygre** ’s story takes me back. I remember selling plasma twice a week back in the Eighties. Never a lower point in my life, living on the streets and this was my biggest source of income. **Keko** , who says there’s no fainting involved? I faint every time! Sometimes it’s the only way I can get to sleep. ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-blood/73905/12 "2001-07-27T10:34:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SuperLorie \* > **Um…why would they “inject” you with anything…** I am an apheresis donor - blood taken out from one arm, platelets extracted in the machine and the rest returned to me in the other arm. There is a tiny amount of anti-coagulant involved, resulting in a funny cold feeling that goes away quickly. A reaction to this is very, very, very unlikely, but in light of a pre-existing medical condition may not be impossible. Another possibility is Chas.E’s friend had a reaction to the betadine (sp?) scrub used to clean the area. This is doubtful, as I don’t believe this would cause anemia. and the ‘death-warmed-over’ appearance. A third possibility is she was not telling him the whole story and is using the donation as a cover for a more serious medical condition. ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-blood/73905/13 "2001-07-27T15:25:01Z")
Double red cell apheresis for me- I’ve got my next appointment just next week. The anti-coagulant that they inject is the best part. You feel a slight chill in your arm, it spreads to your heart, and then throughout your body. Often you won’t get that last sensation, but it always made me imagine a cheesy fantasy movie, where the hero is slowly turning to stone, his arm first and then the rest of his body. The folks at the donor center will explain everything in detail to assuage your fears. They really, really, really, and I mean REALLY want your blood. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-blood/73905/14 "2001-07-27T15:50:05Z")
Keko, I’m a gal, and haven’t seen any “other bodily fluids” for a long time, so cannot donate them. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![tamster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a6a055/32.png) [@tamster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tamster)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-blood/73905/15 "2001-07-27T16:21:06Z")
I donated for the first time just the other day. Crappy acting staff. They really yucked up my friends’ arm, too. Couldn’t find a vein and wouldn’t give up right-a-way. She’s badly bruised, but still got a t-shirt and cookies and juice! I still was glad to do it and will again someday. My question is- Why ain’t it tax deductible?! or is it? ---
**Author:** ![gwar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@gwar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwar)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-blood/73905/16 "2001-07-27T22:42:20Z")
I give plasma twice a week and make a couple hundred a month. However, I am very active, healthy, and in great shape. Some people have adverse reactions to it, such as decreased immune deficiency, fatigue, etc. If you are low on cash, or in college, or whatever, I’d do it, if you are healthy. Hell, it’s grocery money. ---
**Author:** ![Chas.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2001, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-blood/73905/17 "2001-07-28T01:18:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by screech-owl \* > **I am an apheresis donor - blood taken out from one arm, platelets extracted in the machine and the rest returned to me in the other arm. There is a tiny amount of anti-coagulant involved, resulting in a funny cold feeling that goes away quickly. A reaction to this is very, very, very unlikely, but in light of a pre-existing medical condition may not be impossible.** That sounds right, I think I do recall her saying something about anticoagulants, but I was hesitant to press her for details, considering her condition. This poor woman almost died just from the reaction to injection alone. ---
**Author:** ![Neurodoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/848f3c/32.png) [@Neurodoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurodoc)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2001, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-blood/73905/18 "2001-07-28T05:38:14Z")
When I was a student at UC Berkeley in the mid 1970’s I donated plasmato a local center that advertized in the local newspapers here. Since I was “pre-med” I thought it was appropriate to do so, a sort of public service. I found out that the plasma center was collecting blood plasma to make a vaccine for hepatitis B. That explains why they paid a lot extra to “donors” who had serologic evidence of hepatitis B infection. Since I didn’t have that, I was given the regular payment, around $20. It was pretty clear to me that a lot of the high-paid “donors” were sickly appearing fellows, with needle tracks and glazed dope-addled appearances. When the first Hep B vaccine appeared on the market, I declined an offer of immunization with it. I was not at all eager to get an injection made up of some amalgamation of serum from tens of thousands of infected drug users. I waited for the release of the recombinant vaccine, that I took when I enrolled in med school…