Donating Plasma
 

I tried to find details about this in other threads, but didn't find what I need to know.

Is donating plasma scary? I've donated blood dozens of times, but never plasma. Are there any restrictions, medical or otherwise, that could keep you from donating? Should you bring a snack, Gatorade, or something? About how long does it take?

Any help would be appreciated!

I didn't mind donating plasma. I've done it about a dozen times. It took about an hour to finish, and it is recommended that you are well hydrated and fed before you go down to the donation center.

I remember being disqualified from donating one day because I had a cough (turned out of be allergies) but other than that kind of thing, the restrictions are the same as whole blood donation. You can donate plasma much more frequently than donating blood though.

In college, though the Red Cross won't take my blood due to being born overseas after 1980 (in particular countries)--even though it was on a military base---I was able to donate plasma. Apparently, plasma places now have the same restriction. Serving in Iraq didn't deter me from donating plasma. It was the fact that I was born in Europe 30 years ago. Weird. It's not that bad, though.

I donated platelets for about 10 years -- probably around 100 times -- back in the 90s -- can't now because of medicine I take. The time will vary, depends on the size of your veins. They did double needle for me -- take the blood out of one arm, spin it thru the machine and put it back in the other. Takes me around an hour. Of course, the minute they hook up both arms, your nose will itch! But, they take very good care of you and will scratch what needs scratching. I usually get cold -- you are laying still and the blood coming back in is cooler because they add fluid and other things. There will be blankets to keep you warm. The tingling from the thinner is a little weird, but Tums fixes it right up.

The donation centers I've been too will have TV or a movie for you to watch, so the time goes quickly. I never eat or drink any differently from normal and I've usually given in the mid afternoon without any problems. It's usually the volume loss that makes you feel light headed when donating whole blood. You actually get more volume back with the platelet/plasma process, so you shouldn't have any problems.

You'll still get cookies and juice afterwards!

I used to donate plasma a lot. I echo what everyone else said but will say I had a pretty positive experience. I would read/do homework/watch a movie during the donation. The cold, tingly feeling from the blood thinner was uncomfortable but I brought a coat to keep over me during the process and that helped. I didn't have any negative side effects. Someone warned me to keep up a good diet if you're going to do it multiple times because you might start to feel rundown and this was really good advice.

I tried to donate plasma once but I got turned away. They said my veins were prominent enough.

I once went to a plasma place for a job interview. It was...not very...sterile. It was in an rather decrepit former department store in (oh hell- you're from Pittsburgh so you'll know) McKeesport. It just didn't seem like the kind of place I'd want to work, or be stuck with a needle in. YMMV...

*no offense to anyone from McK...I'm a Valley girl myself ;)

I volunteer with American Red Cross blood drives so I can really only speak on that experience.

The process isn't too different than with normal whole blood donations. The requirements aren't too different either. Be healthy, over 110 pounds and over 17. For more specific requirements please check here.
If you go through red cross or basically any blood bank, they will give you snacks and juice/water at the end to up your blood sugar and make sure there are no complications. It is a good thing to have eaten and to be hydrated when you go in. Plasma generally takes about an hour and fifteen minutes to an hour and a half. Whole blood typically takes an hour. A lot of it is going through medical history. The medical history is completely confidential and is only asked to make sure they can use your blood.

I had to give plasma for my son when he had open heart surgery when he was 2 1/2. I don't know if the rules have changed, but the weird thing to me was they told us that plasma cannot cross county lines so I had to drive into San Diego County in order to donate as the surgery was taking place at SD Children's and I lived in Orange County. I was told had the doctor requested whole blood rather than plasma then I could have donated in Orange County.

DaffyKD