How Often Can an Individual Donate Plasma?  

Whole blood, plasma, and platelet donations are essential for fulfilling the need for blood and blood components at hospitals and treatment facilities worldwide. Talking about the plasma donation frequency limits, the American Red Cross allows people to donate plasma at intervals of 28 days. However, private plasma donation companies might allow people to make plasma donations multiple times a week. Read on to uncover the significance of plasma donation, how often an individual can donate plasma, and the eligibility criteria for plasma donation. 

How Many Times Can an Individual Donate Plasma?

According to the American Red Cross, an individual can donate plasma after every 28 days or a maximum of 13 times yearly. But the plasma donation frequency limits of most private plasma donation centers is up to multiple times a week. Moreover, plasma donation centers operating on a pay-per-donation system reward donors through financial incentives. Therefore, frequent plasma donation is a lucrative way to earn extra money for many.  

Why It’s Better to Donate Plasma Restrictively?

According to the research, too frequent plasma donation can negatively impact the plasma’s quality. The main reason for this is the limited ability of the body to regenerate vital components of the plasma quickly. In a 2010 study, researchers found that plasma from the people in the United States who donated more frequently and in higher volume was lower in the total protein, albumin, and other blood makers components. 

How to Determine if an Individual is Eligible to Donate Plasma?

Not every individual is eligible for plasma donation. Here listed are the most common factors that can disqualify a person from donating his plasma:

•       Illness: People having a fever, productive cough, or generally feeling unwell can’t donate plasma. Moreover, people receiving antibiotics for active infections are also disqualified. 
•       Medical Conditions: 23 conditions are considered by the American Red Cross to screen blood donors. Chronic illnesses such as Hepatitis and HIV and other active conditions, such as tuberculosis, automatically disqualify people from donating. 
•       Medications: Certain medical treatments and medications, including blood transfusions, surgeries, etc., can affect an individual’s plasma donation capability. 
•       Low Iron: People with low iron or hemoglobin levels are also not eligible for plasma donations. 

What is the Importance of Plasma Donation?

Blood cells and plasma are two primary components of human blood. RBCs, WBCs, and platelets form the cellular component of blood and water, and sugar, fats, proteins, and other nutrients form the blood’s plasma component. 

Blood plasma is essential to regulate blood pressure and volume, maintain pH levels, and circulate blood clotting proteins, electrolytes, and other nutrients required for cellular metabolism. 

Plasma donation is vital as donated blood plasma can help treat people who have experienced trauma, burns, clotting factor deficiencies, shock, and severe liver disease. 

Conclusion 

The plasma donation frequency limits, as defined by the American Red Cross, is up to 13 times each year. Since blood, plasma, and platelet donations are always in demand at healthcare units, it’s recommended to donate these blood components repeatedly. An individual should always consult a doctor to know if he is healthy enough to donate plasma before signing up for plasma donation.

Paul Petersen