How to Make Money Donating Plasma (My Personal Experience)

Every week, I see someone asking, “Does anyone know how I can make easy money on the side?” One of the easiest ways to make money is by selling your plasma.

But anytime you decide to meddle with your body, there could be consequences. Read below to see if it’s the right side gig for you.

My Personal Experience Donating Plasma

When I was a senior in college I needed money, so I started selling plasma at the local center. I lived in a big college town, and I’m sure there was no shortage of students willing to be poked with a needle in exchange for $20 (I bet many did that on the side for free!)

When I started donating plasma, I was a full-time college student busy applying to internships and figuring out what I would do after graduation. I didn’t want to get a part-time job, and I wanted something easy to earn a little bit of spending money. Remember, this was before you could earn money by driving people around.

I was a little wary. Selling your plasma sounded like what junkies did to earn money to support their habit. But I quickly realized the appeal of donating plasma. Most appointments lasted an hour after the initial two-hour visit, and I could go anytime. It was easy to schedule or cancel an appointment.

I continued to donate plasma after graduation when I was trying to support myself for the first time. I worked part-time at a call center and had an unpaid internship an hour away. Giving plasma allowed me to earn some money without taking on another part-time job.

Unfortunately, I had to stop for health reasons. Every time you stop in, you have to get your hemoglobin levels checked. If they’re high enough, you’re good to go. If they’re too low, they won’t let you donate. Hemoglobin is a protein that carries oxygen to tissues in your body. If your hemoglobin dips below a certain amount, then you’re anemic.

After a few weeks, my hemoglobin levels fell beneath the allowable range for plasma donation. Every time I went in, I was denied. I tried taking iron supplements, but they messed with my stomach and made me feel sick.

After a while, I stopped going to the plasma center. My doctor said I wasn’t anemic, but my hemoglobin levels still weren’t high enough for me to donate safely. I probably could have kept trying, but it seemed like a waste to drive to find out I couldn’t donate.

One of the best reasons to donate plasma is that you can do other stuff while you’re sitting in the chair. You can read, watch TV, do homework, or listen to music or podcasts.

I was in college when I started donating, and even though I told myself I would bring my homework, I could never focus enough to be productive. Donating plasma might be perfect if you can’t get a part-time job with set hours. I loved not worrying about fitting in my plasma appointments alongside my internship and other job.

What is Plasma Donation?

Plasma donation occurs when people sell the plasma portion of their blood. Pharmaceutical companies use plasma to develop drugs to treat diseases like hemophilia. Your plasma contains antibodies, enzymes, and other proteins. See here for more uses of plasma.

Does Donating Plasma Hurt?

I hate getting blood tests, and donating plasma was an uncomfortable experience. Once the initial needle is in, it’s not painful. While the machine sifts the plasma from your blood, it injects it back into it with a saline solution.

For some reason, that saline feels cold when it enters your bloodstream, so you’ll feel pretty chilly during the experience. I recommend bringing a jacket or blanket with you.

Are There Long-Term Effects?

There are no long-term effects from donating your plasma. However, in the short term, you might feel dehydrated. You can rectify this easily by drinking more fluids before and after donating.

Some websites say that alcohol will affect you more in the 24-48 hours after donation. I can’t remember if I felt uneasy after donation, but I always recommend eating well before and after donation.

Overall, plasma donation is incredibly safe. Yes, you might be in the same room with some unsavory-looking characters, but your health isn’t in danger. Some people might have more adverse reactions to plasma donation, so watch for any unusual symptoms after your appointment.

I will also point out that many people, myself included, develop track marks after a few weeks of donations. These are small scars that develop at the injection site.

They don’t hurt or anything, but since drug users are more commonly associated with having them, some people are wary. Nobody I know noticed mine unless I pointed them out. They go away eventually once you stop donating.

How Much Can You Get Paid to Donate Plasma?

Ah, the million dollar question. When I donated plasma, I made about $20 per donation. But each center has their own policy, so try to call around before you decide. Depending on the city you live in, some places pay up to $50.

My center offered a bonus if you donated a certain number of times within a month. This is pretty standard. You can usually give twice a week, with at least 48 hours in between for your body to recover.

Qualifying for the bonuses is the best way to maximize your earning potential. In some cases, you can earn around $200 a month. Most pay via a prepaid Visa gift card, which you can withdraw cash from or use like a debit card.

Where Can You Donate Plasma?

Here are a few of the most popular places to donate plasma:

Is Donating Plasma Worth It?

This question is pretty subjective. If you get queasy at the sight of a needle, $20 might not be worth it. It might be if you’re desperate for an easy way to earn money.

Overall, the flexibility of plasma donation is its key characteristic. It’s like driving for Lyft – you might not make as much as you could doing something else, but it’s one of the only things you can do where you choose the hours.

What are the requirements?

You must weigh at least 110 pounds, be between 18 and 69 years old, and have a clean bill of health. Most also require that you produce an in-state driver’s license, a social security card, and proof of address.

The center will test your blood for diseases and also check your protein and hemoglobin levels. If those are too low, you’ll be ineligible to donate that day and will have to wait a certain amount before you can return. People who donate blood must wait about eight weeks or so to donate plasma.

Summary

If you ever need extra money but don’t want the hassle of interviewing for a retail gig or driving for Lyft, plasma donation is your best bet. If you want to do something that pays better, many side hustles pay well and don’t require you to get poked with a needle.

Recommended Reading