Posted: 1/23/2005 4:36:41 PM EDT
| Does anyone know if local chapters of the Red Cross offer compensation for Plasma donation? I live about 500 yards from the local chapter and have been unable to reach them for an answer. Does it mostly depend on the branch itself or is it a widespread practice of the Red Cross. |
Uh...  |
Actually, they CANNOT pay for blood by federal law. Plasma Centers that use only the plasma to manufacture products can pay per donation. The $500 per Unit comes from several things-- Cost of Collection--it takes 2 techs to draw, verify paperwork, etc. Takes STERILE, FDA approved tubing and collection bags. Cost of Processing--the donation is separated into Platelets, Plasma and Red Cells, and each must be stored properly. Cost of Testing--your donated blood is tested for 7 to 9 different Disease markers, most by direct Nucleic Acid testing (Hep, HIV, etc.). It is blood typed TWICE before being labeled. Cost of Shipping--Must be stored and shipped in temperature controlled envrionments subject to multiple recording requirements. Cost of Crossmatching--must be crossmatched to the donor before transfusion. Cost of Record Keeping--records must be stored of EACH step in the process for 10 years. That is where the cost of the unit of blood comes from. There are almost no for-profit blood centers in the USA (most are non-profit, break even companies). So, think of it like this--
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