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But they did ratchet back the prices! Back in college I went with friends to donate plasma(I had a job, didn't 'need' the money). It was interesting and paid $7

by tunap 10y ago

But they did ratchet back the prices! Back in college I went with friends to donate plasma(I had a job, didn't 'need' the money). It was interesting and paid $75 for < 2 hours of my time. Wow! I went back once(twice?) a month as allowed. It was a great boost to my income, plus got to watch free movies and free juice and snacks on the way out. Fast forward several years and local labs pay $35 or $25 per seasion and it turned into a 4 hour episode of mostly waiting around to get the 20 min(?) procedure, watching movies. Sure it beats a poke in the eye, but the incentive for anyone but the poor and desperate was gone. Nowadays I'll give blood for free(& snacks!), will not waste half a day to enrich the lab's bottom line.

jrs235 10y ago
Where I am you can donate twice a week and usually takes an hour, during busier times it might take 1.5 hours depending on a short wait and how quickly you cycle (the more hydrated you are the faster it can go and your weight determines how much you will have to donate). First donation of the week they pay $20, second time is $50. That's $70 a week, $280 a month. I donate. I don't need to but why not get paid to read?
- tunap 10y ago
  That seems like a lot of plasma your body has to replenish. Sure the platelets are put back, but sounds extreme... IANAMD. I am referring to my experience in the '90s and it may have been allowed more than 2xs a month, but that is all I was comfortable with. When the payout was reduced >50% I desisted.
  - jrs235 10y ago
    825 ml per time. I weigh approx 165 lbs. They give you a pint of saline.
    - tunap 10y ago
      That was a helluva rush when the cold water flowed up my bicep and into my chest. I was weighing in around 170 then, they always asked why I was so skinny... perhaps probing for indications of a drug problem? Am 6ft 0in, and 25 years later still 170lbs. Yay. Back on topic: Adjusting for inflation(stagflation), that's a hell of a lot less today than when I initially quit. In your opinion, what percentage of people donating are not indigent? Back then I would have said maybe 25%, and those were all hard-up students from the University 4 blocks away. edit: changed 'starving' to 'hard-up'. Technically, indigent too.
      - jrs235 10y ago
        Not indigent? 100% The center is located where it would be difficult to get to if indigent. There are three colleges in town and a large portion of donors are college students. Most others I would guess are blue collar or para professionals. I think the income comes in handy for a majority of donors. It might help many make ends meet. I don't think anyone would donate for free.

by tunap 10y ago

jrs235 10y ago

Where I am you can donate twice a week and usually takes an hour, during busier times it might take 1.5 hours depending on a short wait and how quickly you cycle (the more hydrated you are the faster it can go and your weight determines how much you will have to donate). First donation of the week they pay $20, second time is $50. That's $70 a week, $280 a month. I donate. I don't need to but why not get paid to read?

tunap 10y ago
That seems like a lot of plasma your body has to replenish. Sure the platelets are put back, but sounds extreme... IANAMD. I am referring to my experience in the '90s and it may have been allowed more than 2xs a month, but that is all I was comfortable with. When the payout was reduced >50% I desisted.
- jrs235 10y ago
  825 ml per time. I weigh approx 165 lbs. They give you a pint of saline.
  - tunap 10y ago
    That was a helluva rush when the cold water flowed up my bicep and into my chest. I was weighing in around 170 then, they always asked why I was so skinny... perhaps probing for indications of a drug problem? Am 6ft 0in, and 25 years later still 170lbs. Yay. Back on topic: Adjusting for inflation(stagflation), that's a hell of a lot less today than when I initially quit. In your opinion, what percentage of people donating are not indigent? Back then I would have said maybe 25%, and those were all hard-up students from the University 4 blocks away. edit: changed 'starving' to 'hard-up'. Technically, indigent too.
    - jrs235 10y ago
      Not indigent? 100% The center is located where it would be difficult to get to if indigent. There are three colleges in town and a large portion of donors are college students. Most others I would guess are blue collar or para professionals. I think the income comes in handy for a majority of donors. It might help many make ends meet. I don't think anyone would donate for free.