They do sometimes but not always drug test you to donate plasma in some plasma donation centers and some plasma donation centers may have you do a urine test or saliva drug test and others may only ask you about any drug use history.
Although the American Red Cross does not drug test you for donating blood or plasma but some others can and do.
The reason why they check your arms when donating plasma is to ensure that your veins are suitable for inserting a needle, which also includes checking your vein seize, depth of veins and for any visible abnormalities.
Other reasons why they check your arms when you donate plasma is to look for any cuts, bruising or other damages that could compromise the plasma donation process or increase your risk of infection.
Checking your arms when donating plasma is also done to screen for any evidence of any past or present intravenous drug use which can pose a safety risk for the donor and recipients as well as to select an arm that is comfortable for you to sit with during the plasma donation process.
Checking of the arm for donating plasma also is done to check for any skin infections or rashes and to look for any signs that you may be using needles for illicit drugs such as track marks.
The reason why they poke your finger when donating plasma is to check your hemoglobin levels and to ensure that you as the plasma donor are healthy enough to donate the plasma.
The hemoglobin test through pricking your finger helps determine if you have a normal amount of hemoglobin, which is a protein in your red blood cells which carry oxygen.
Having a low hemoglobin level can indicate that you have anemia, which would prevent you from safely being able to donate the plasma.
The hemoglobin is crucial and required for oxygen to transport in the body and it also contains iron.
Having a low hemoglobin level can cause complications such as feeling ill or even fainting.
Things that would disqualify you from being able to donate plasma are you have certain medical conditions, take certain medications, have had recent procedures, your lifestyle choices, have high blood pressure, chronic illnesses or epilepsy, you have infectious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B and C and other infectious disease that can be transmitted through plasma or you have a primary immunodeficiency.
Also if you've been to other plasma donation centers and have already donated the amount of plasma that is allowed within a certain time frame that can also be another reason why they didn't let you donate plasma.
Plasma centers also know if you went somewhere else because plasma donation centers use a national database, like the Cross Donation Check System, which tracks donor activity to prevent people from donating plasma too frequently or at multiple locations simultaneously.
The Cross Donation Check System helps to ensure your safety as a plasma donor and also the quality of the plasma that is donated and collected.
When you constantly donate plasma it can lead to some side effects and risks which include fatigue, dehydration, bruising and in rare cases anemia and low immunoglobulin levels.
Regular or constant plasma donations can decrease the protein levels in your blood, as plasma contains vital proteins such as albumin.
And although red blood cells are also returned to the body during apheresis during the plasma donation, there's still a small risk of incidental red blood cell loss and potential iron deficiency with frequent donations.
Repeated needle insertions at the same site can also cause damage to the veins and scarring.
The side effects of giving plasma include fatigue, dehydration and possible bruising or soreness at the insertion site of the needle.
These are short term side effects which usually go away pretty quickly.
Some less common side effects of giving plasma include fainting, temporary calcium depletion and dizziness.
In rare cases, infections and or more serious reactions could occur but in general giving plasma is safe for most people.
The actual compensation or pay for plasma donations ranges from $30.00 to $70.00 for each plasma donation and some new donors can also earn more with some promotions, which can total $500.00 to $800.00 or more in their first month.
Grifols is who pays the most for plasma donations.
New plasma donors can make as much as $1,100.00 for 8 plasma donations in their first time of donating plasma with Grifols.
Some plasma donation centers offer special promotions and or bonuses for new donors or during certain times of the year.
Plasma donors are also paid based on their weight.
And plasma donors with rare blood types may also get higher compensation.
Pay for the plasma donation also can differ between each plasma donation centers.
Plasma donation involves a process called plasmapheresis, where a sterile needle is used to draw blood, which is then separated into its components (plasma, red blood cells, etc.) by a machine.
The plasma is collected, and the remaining blood components are returned to the donor's body, usually with some saline solution.
The process allows for the donation of plasma, which is a vital component of blood that is used in several different medical treatments, while also minimizing the impact on the plasma donor.
As a plasma donor you will undergo a health screening, which includes blood tests and a physical exam to ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements.
A trained technician will then insert a sterile needle in your vein in your arm and the blood is drawn out through a needle and then sent into a specialized machine.
The machine then separates the plasma from other blood components using a centrifuge.
The collected plasma is then stored and the red blood cells and other components are returned to your body as a donor, using along with a saline solution to help maintain blood volume.
The process of plasma donation is repeated multiple times during a plasma donation session and the entire procedure of plasma donation takes 45 minutes to 60 minutes.
After the plasma donation doctors will advise you to stay hydration and avoid strenuous activity until you recover.