Next Steps For Donating Plasma As Long As Youve Never Had Hep C
As part of our clinical trials solution, DoNotPay can help you find the best plasma sites near you. We offer compensation estimates and outline the donation process and the eligibility requirements, so you know exactly what to expect. We’ll also help you contact them if you have any questions or concerns, such as regarding your eligibility, office hours, compensation, or first-time bonuses.
Here’s how you can use DoNotPay to become a plasma donor:
Storage And Blood Shelf Life
The collected blood is usually stored in a blood bank as separate components, and some of these have short shelf lives. There are no storage methods to keep platelets for extended periods of time, though some were being studied as of 2008. The longest shelf life used for platelets is seven days.
Red blood cells , the most frequently used component, have a shelf life of 35â42 days at refrigerated temperatures. For long-term storage applications, this can be extended by freezing the blood with a mixture of glycerol, but this process is expensive and requires an extremely cold freezer for storage. Plasma can be stored frozen for an extended period of time and is typically given an expiration date of one year and maintaining a supply is less of a problem.
How Do Doctors Treat Hepatitis A
Treatment includes resting, drinking plenty of liquids, and eating healthy foods to help relieve symptoms. Your doctor may also suggest medicines to help relieve symptoms.
Talk with your doctor before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, vitamins or other dietary supplements, or complementary or alternative medicinesany of these could damage your liver. You should avoid alcohol until your doctor tells you that you have completely recovered from hepatitis A.
See your doctor regularly to make sure your body has fully recovered. If you have symptoms for longer than 6 months, see your doctor again.
Read Also: Is There Medicine For Hepatitis B
Can I Donate If
For whole-blood donation, you can make an appointment using our simple on-line form. If you have any other questions or concerns regarding donation, call the NIH Blood Bank at 496-1048. We can also answer many of your questions via email at .
Below, you will find a list of questions donors frequently ask. The eligibility criteria for donation at the National Institutes of Health Department of Transfusion Medicine reflects local NIH policy as well as national regulations. Although all blood banks are required to follow general federal regulations, specific criteria may vary, depending on each blood bank’s internal policies. If you are donating at a blood bank other than the NIH Blood Bank, contact that bank with any questions regarding your eligibility.
Can I donate if …
Can I donate if I am taking aspirin? You cannot donate platelets if you have taken aspirin in the last 48 hours.
Can I donate if I am 16 years old? You must be at least 17 years old to donate at the NIH Blood Bank or Donor Center at Fishers Lane.
Can I donate if I am 70 years old? There is no upper age limit for donation.
Can I donate if I have traveled to other countries? There is a slight risk of exposure to infectious agents outside the United States that could cause serious disease. Donor deferral criteria for travel outside the US are designed to prevent the transmission of three specific organisms from donor to recipient:
Who Might Have To Wait To Donate Plasma
There are some health, travel and lifestyle reasons that may stop you from being able to donate plasma on a temporary basis.
If you are not sure if you can donate, please call us on 0300 123 23 23 to discuss your situation.
If you are a blood donor you can give plasma 4 weeks after your last blood donation. You will have to stop donating blood while you give plasma.
Please wait 48 hours from your vaccine before donating .
- has received money or drugs for sex
- has injected non-prescribed drugs including body-building and injectable tanning agents
Also Check: Can You Give Plasma If You Have Hepatitis C
Why Use Donotpay To Help Donate Blood Plasma
Here’s why you should let DoNotPay help you find a blood plasma center for you.
- It’s fast. You won’t have to spend hours trying to find the right blood plasma center.
- It’s easy. You don’t have to struggle filling out tedious forms or keeping track of various steps to complete the process.
- It’s successful. You can rest easy knowing that we’ll make the best case for you.
Important Information About Your Test Results
The tests performed on your donation have given positive results for HBV. This means that you are infected with HBV and that the virus is in your bloodstream. Because the virus is also in the blood, it can be passed on to the recipient of blood transfusion. The tests do not give any information about when or how you became infected, or whether your liver is inflamed or not. Other tests should be performed which will give much more information about your health.
Your test results are regarded as strictly confidential and will not be disclosed to anyone without your consent. Being infected with HBV does not necessarily mean that your liver is inflamed or that you will become ill in the future. However, we could refer you to a specialist in liver disease for further medical care and treatment. Furthermore, you are infectious to your sexual partner and should seek treatment for both yourself and your partner. If you do not want to, or are unable to inform your partner, the specialist centre may be able to help you with that.
We advise you to think very carefully before sharing your result with others. Most people do not need to know. You should tell those with whom you recently or regularly had sexual contact. You should also tell your doctor and any other doctor who may look after you, particularly for females who are planning a pregnancy. You should also inform your dentist of the possible infection risk.
Don’t Miss: Hepatitis B Surface Ab Immunity
What Other Conditions Does Blood Screening Identify
donate organs to people who do not have these antibodies.
Before this, organ transplants from people with HCV were allowed, but under the label of increased risk. In 2017, the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network reported that doctors were less likely to use organs from increased risk donors.
The OPTN added that this is likely based on a misconception of what the term means, as studies have shown that people who receive organs from increased risk donors have equal or better post-graft survival rates than those with non-increased risk transplants.
The new stress the continuing importance of testing, informed consent from the recipient, and follow-up tests to determine the HCV status of the recipient after transplant.
Is Donating Plasma Painful
Whether the process is painful for you depends on your pain threshold. For some people, donating feels no worse than a pinprick, while others may feel more pain. If the nurse misses the vein or you experience plasma donation side effects, its possible youll experience more pain, but overall, most people report nothing more than mild discomfort.
You May Like: Hepatitis A Causes Symptoms Treatment
Donating Plasma Faq: Everything You Need To Know About Plasma Donation
Do you want to donate plasma, either to earn a little extra money or to help your community? Although its a fairly common practice, its a little more complicated than donating blood. If youre thinking of doing this for the first time, you might be uncertain what to expect. Read on for our guide to frequently asked questions about the requirements for donating plasma and the process overall.
How Common Is Hepatitis A
In the United States, hepatitis A has become relatively uncommon. After the hepatitis A vaccine became available in 1995, the rate of hepatitis A infections declined by 95 percent in the United States. The number of reported cases of hepatitis A fell to 1,239 in 2014, the lowest yearly number of cases reported since the disease could be tracked.1 However, the number of reported cases increased to 3,366 in 2017, almost 3 times higher, mostly due to outbreaks among people who use drugs and people experiencing homelessness.1 Early reports suggest that the numbers of cases and outbreaks of hepatitis A increased further during 2018 and continue at these higher rates in 2019.2
Hepatitis A is more common in developing countries where sanitation is poor and access to clean water is limited. Hepatitis A is more common in parts of Africa, Asia, Central and South America, and Eastern Europe than it is in the United States.
Don’t Miss: Where Does Hepatitis C Come From
What Can Disqualify You From Donating Plasma
If youre interested in donating plasma, requirements exist for a rigorous screening as part of the plasma donation process. Part of the reason that the screening process exists is to protect those receiving the donations, many of whom have compromised health. It also ensures that the donors themselves are in good enough physical health to avoid the side effects of donating plasma.
The requirements for donating plasma are fairly consistent. You must be at least 16 years old, weigh over 110 pounds, and have a valid ID. Do they drug test you before donating plasma? Not generally people who take certain prescription drugs, show signs of injectable drug use, or are visibly intoxicated are not allowed to donate plasma.
Part of the reason that the screening process exists is to protect those receiving the donations, many of whom have compromised health.
Certain health conditions also prevent you from donating, such as pregnancy or recent childbirth. If youve had dental work in the past 72 hours, youll be deferred. Also, if youve received the MMR vaccine or had chickenpox in the past month or taken antibiotics orally in the past 2448 hours or by injection in the past 72 hours, youre also deferred.
How To Prevent Hbv From Being Transmitted To Others
Blood donation: Unfortunately, you will no longer be able to give blood. Any current sexual partner cannot be a donor either.
Sexual contact: Any sexual contact, where infected body fluids enter the body of another person, carries the risk of infection. The degree of risk varies with the activity. The sexual activities most likely to pass on the virus are:
- Unprotected anal intercourse
- Unprotected vaginal intercourse
- Any activity which draws blood this would include sexual intercourse during the menstrual period.
The infection is passed more easily from a man to a woman than from a woman to a man, but it is recommended that:
- A regular partner is immunized against hepatitis B virus to protect against the risk of transmission this can be arranged by your doctor
- Condoms are used with other partners to reduce both the risk of passing on HBV and the risk of acquiring some other infection.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: There is a risk of the virus being passed from mother to baby at the time of birth. Throughout the world this is probably the most common way for the infection to be passed on, but it can be prevented if the baby is given protective injections at birth. There is also a risk from breastfeeding, but this is prevented if the baby has been protected.
Accidents which involve blood spillage could expose other people to risk, so it is recommended that you:
Also Check: What Are The Side Effects Of Hepatitis B
Blood Screening In The United States
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration , through the Center for Biologics and Research , is responsible for ensuring the safety of the roughly 19 million units of whole blood donated in the United States each year.
To keep the blood supply safe, the FDA has established regulations to screen donors before a donation and to screen donated blood after it has been received by blood banks. To help with this, an extensive questionnaire is given to donors to collect information about their medical history and any risk factors that may exclude them from donating.
Blood received from donors then undergoes routine screening for the following blood-transmitted infections:
- Hepatitis B
- Zika virus
Any donated blood is quarantined until it is tested and shown to be free of infection.
Due to advanced blood screening practices, the risk of the accidental transmission of hepatitis B and C from contaminated blood is less than one in 500,000 and one in two million transfused units, respectively.
Donator’s Incentive And Deterrence
Multiple studies have shown that the main reason people donate is due to selflessness, charity, general awareness regarding the demand for blood, increased confidence in oneself, helping a personal friend/relative, and social pressure. On the other hand, lack of blood donations can occur due to fear, lack of faith in the medical professionals, inconvenience, and the lack of consideration for donating. Pathologist Leo McCarthy states that blood shortages routinely occur between July 4 and Labor day and between Christmas and New Year.
Don’t Miss: Pcr Test For Hepatitis C
Medical Care And Treatment
It is very important to have a full medical check-up. This should be arranged with a specialist in liver disease. The specialist will arrange a full medical assessment of your liver which will give much more information about your health. You will also be advised if any treatment is necessary.
There is no cure for hepatitis B virus infection, but medications are available which can reduce the harmful effects of the virus. Whether or not you need treatment will depend on how the virus is affecting your liver. There is no special diet that should be followed, but it is important to avoid alcohol as this also causes hepatitis and liver damage.
How To Donate Plasma
Expect the plasma donation process to take 1 to 2 hours. If its your first time at the donation center, the initial paperwork and health screening may take longer. Depending on how fast the blood draw occurs, the actual donation part takes roughly an hour.
To donate, make an appointment at a reputable plasma donation center. If you arent sure where to go, check with your doctor or a local hospital for recommendations. Currently, there are more than 700 licensed and certified plasma collection centers in the US and Europe Licensing means that your donation will be executed by a trained medical professional in a highly controlled, sterile environment.
Also Check: How Long Before Hepatitis C Symptoms Appear
Side Effects Of Donating Plasma
Donating plasma can have side effects that are typically minor, but if its your first time donating, you may wish to have a ride home, just in case. Bruising and nerve irritation are among the most common, usually around the injection site. It may have mild swelling, which can be treated with cold packs. Nerve irritation causes immediate, intense pain at the injection site and can cause shooting pain down the arm and into the hand. If this happens, alert the technician theyll immediately remove the needle. This should eliminate the stabbing pain, although some mild discomfort may remain for a day or two afterward.
More serious risks of donating plasma may be a drop in blood pressure, which can result in light-headedness or fainting. Some people experience this as a result of fear of needles or having blood drawn. Other possible side effects include sweating and paleness, weakness, sudden warmness, or nausea or vomiting. Dizziness and blurred or tunnel vision may also occur.
More serious risks of donating plasma may be a drop in blood pressure, which can result in light-headedness or fainting.
If a mild reaction occurs, the donation is typically paused, calcium may be given to you to eliminate these side effects of donating plasma. However, with a severe citrate reaction, the donation process is halted. You may need emergency attention.
Who Can’t Donate Plasma
You can’t donate plasma if you:
- have had most types of cancer
- have some heart conditions
- have received blood, platelets, plasma or any other blood products after 1 January 1980
- have tested positive for HIV or HTLV
- have had an organ transplant
- are a hepatitis B carrier
- are a hepatitis C carrier
- have injected non-prescribed drugs including body-building and injectable tanning agents
There are other medical conditions that may mean you can’t donate. Please call us on 0300 123 23 23 to check if you can donate.
I can afford to give my plasma to someone in need, its my way of sharing a bit of happiness. The team at the centre are lovely, they feed me chocolate!
Veronika Royle donates plasma in Reading.
You May Like: Royal Canin Hepatic Canned Dog Food
What Is Specialty Plasma
Everyones plasma is unique. And in special cases, it contains specific levels of certain antibodies required to manufacture some Grifols medicines. These medications include rabies and tetanus immunoglobulin. We invite you to look into our Specialty Plasma Programs. Not all our centers participate in these programs, so ask a center staff member or check out the center’s webpage to see if they are offered.
For some of these programs, we look for donors with higher levels of specific antibodies. So, you will have to get a separate test at a participating center to see if you qualify for one of the programs below.