Why Donate Plasma with CSL Plasma?

Donation Benefits

Your donation helps those in need to live healthier lives.

Your plasma donation can save and improve lives, plain and simple.

Our parent company CSL Behring uses human plasma to produce therapies that are used around the world to treat bleeding disorders including hemophilia and von Willebrand disease, primary immune deficiencies, hereditary angioedema, inherited respiratory disease, and neurological disorders in certain markets. CSL Behring's products are also used in cardiac surgery, organ transplantation, burn treatment and to prevent hemolytic diseases in the newborn, so many people will benefit from your donation.

And donating plasma is good for you, too, because you’ll get paid and leave with the knowledge that you’re making a real difference in someone else’s life.

What is Plasma? An Overview of Blood Plasma

Donating plasma has many benefits for both the donors and patients. Donors can get rewarded for their contributions, and recipients receive life-saving medical treatment for a variety of illnesses and disorders. When you donate plasma, your blood goes through a centrifuge that separates the plasma from the rest of your blood. But what is plasma? Read on to explore an overview of this important element of the human body that can make a huge difference for those who need it.

What is Blood Plasma?

Blood is made up of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, all of which are suspended in plasma. Plasma is a clear-yellow liquid that suspends blood cells and helps transport antibodies, nutrients and waste through the body. Plasma is the cell free part of blood composed of water, proteins, electrolytes, lipids (fat) and carbohydrates. It makes up the majority of our blood and is approximately 92% water. Some of the proteins like albumin, gamma globulin, and anti-hemophilic factor (a protein that helps blood clot) are important for medical therapies.

What Does Blood Plasma Do?

Plasma is an important element that performs a variety of functions. The biggest task of plasma is to serve as a transport system for our bodies. It carries proteins, nutrients, hormones, waste products and drugs and other elements throughout our bodies and is also critical to maintaining the fluidity of blood. Not only does plasma help clot blood when there has been a cut, but it also works to fight disease as well as carry electrolytes to our muscles. Plasma even helps our bodies maintain the correct pH balance — avoiding too much or too little acidity — which is important for all of our cells to function. Plasma is also important because cells put their waste into the plasma. The plasma then moves that waste through the body to get rid of it.

Plasma is important to donate because it is a valuable part of treatment for a variety of health problems. The proteins, antibodies, clotting factors, and other nutrients in plasma make it useful in treating those suffering from trauma, shock, burns, and other emergencies. Plasma is used to treat rare and inherited chronic conditions, such as immune deficiencies, autoimmune disorders and hemophilia (the inability of blood to clot), among others. Often the therapies replace important proteins the patient lacks.

How Does the Body Make Plasma?

Plasma is in our bodies at birth and is replenished from the protein, water and salts we consume through our diets. They are absorbed through our digestive tracts. Fluids, proteins and other substances in the cells in our body can pass into the plasma to be transported to other parts of the body and maintain the essential fluidity and volume of plasma in our blood vessels.
When you donate plasma, it takes your body about 48 hours to replenish the volume you donated. When you rehydrate after you donate, you help speed up the process.
In the healthcare community, plasma is sometimes considered “Liquid Gold” for all of the benefits it provides.

If you are interested in donating plasma, contact a CSL Plasma location near you, and help people around the world while getting rewarded yourself.

What are the differences in donating plasma versus blood?

You can safety donate plasma twice a week with a minimum of 48 hours between donations. Plasma is collected by an apheresis process in which your cells are returned to you. You receive saline at the end of the donation to help replenish your body fluids. Whole blood is not collected by apheresis, can only be donated every 56 days and there is no saline infusion at the end of the donation process.

Donations are needed more than ever. Become a donor today!

Find a donation center near you and help people around the world while making up to $1,000* your first month.

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What is plasma?

Plasma is a straw-colored liquid that carries red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Plasma is made up of water (about 90%), proteins and clotting factors (8%), and small amounts of salts, glucose (blood sugar) and lipids (fats). It helps to maintain a satisfactory and steady level of blood pressure as well as deliver proteins for blood clotting purposes and fighting various diseases.

Watch the 2-minute video

Who is it helping?

Patients who use our products need them to replace missing or deficient proteins that allow them to lead healthy and more productive lives. These patients generally require regular infusions or injections throughout their lives as their conditions are genetic and chronic.

Hear from a few patients

How do I get started?

Anyone in good health, 18 or older, who weighs at least 110 lbs, have had no tattoos or piercings within the last 4 months, meets our eligibility and screening requirements, has valid identification and a permanent address is eligible to donate plasma.

How to get started donating

The More You Donate the More You Earn

CSL Plasma pays donors for being a life-saver. Donors are paid per donation on a pre-paid debit card and can earn up to $1,000* their first month*.
Please contact your local plasma collection center for more information.

First-Time Donor Payments

Please contact the center to confirm that your home address is within our recruitment area PRIOR to visiting.

Current Donor Payments

Donors receive payments for their time with payments made on a reloadable prepaid card and donors also accumulate points for each donation through our iGive Rewards^® program. The more you give the more you get.

First-time donors, please contact the center to confirm that your home address is within our recruitment area PRIOR to visiting since it varies per location.

*Donors can get up to $1,000. Payments and promotions for eligible, qualified donors vary by location and weight. Ask the center manager at your preferred donation location for details.