What is a first plasma donation like?
How it works
A machine separates plasma and returns your red cells, often with some saline. It usually takes a bit longer than whole blood.
Volunteer and paid plasma
Volunteer centers collect plasma for hospitals. Commercial centers pay for source plasma used to make medicines. These are different paths.
Who it suits
AB donors are universal plasma donors. Staff can tell you what is most useful at your center.
Related
Find a place to donate
Search by city, ZIP, state, or center name, or use your location to see the closest centers.
Our no-monetization pledge
BloodBanker does not use affiliate links, paid rankings, or ads on mission pages. We do not sell donor health information. We link to official donation organizations so people can donate safely and locally.
Read the full pledgeSources and review
The guidance on this page reflects published criteria from these organizations. Eligibility and procedures vary by center and country, so confirm specifics with your donation center.
- American Red Cross
- AABB (Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies)
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Blood Donation
- Canadian Blood Services
- Last reviewed:
- Next review due:
- Reviewed by:
- Reviewed against American Red Cross, AABB, and U.S. FDA donor guidance
- Confidence:
- High confidence