For students looking to do a good deed while earning some extra spending money, donating plasma could be the answer.
Students have the opportunity to get paid for donating plasma at the Interstate Blood and Plasma Inc. Center on campus, called Badger Plasma, 319 W. Gorham St. According to literature available at the center, anyone 18 years and older, in good health and weighing at least 110 pounds can donate plasma.
Plasma is the straw-colored liquid portion of the blood, that plays a key role in controlling bleeding and infections.
UW-Madison junior Dan Hintz has been donating plasma at Badger Plasma for two years. For Hintz, donating plasma was a good alternative to working while going to school.
'You can make over $200 a month [donating plasma],' said Hintz. 'I needed some spare change and didn't feel like getting a part time job.'
According to Hintz, donors are paid $20 per donation for the first five times they donate. After that, the rate is increased to $25.
'I use most of the money to go out with, but I also use it to pay rent,' Hintz said.
Hintz said the entire process of donating plasma takes about one-and-a-half hours. First, donors must spend 30 minutes in a screening process where they are checked for good health and answer oral questions to ensure safety. The actual donation process takes approximately an hour.
According to IBPI literature, other components of blood, such as red blood cells, are not depleted by plasma donation, so recovery time is significantly less than donating whole blood. This is why Hintz is allowed to donate twice a week.
However, Hintz warned plasma donors to make sure they take care of themselves.
'Drink a lot of water. I am always drinking water to keep myself hydrated,' Hintz said.
More than 100,000 patients a day depend on plasma donation for a variety of medical purposes. Accident and trauma victims, newborn babies and elderly patients, burn victims, hemophiliacs, some cancer patients and people with immune deficiencies depend on plasma donations.
When asked if plasma donations were the answer to all UW students' financial woes, Hintz was torn.
'For some [students] yes, for some [students] no,' Hintz said. For students bothered by needles, plasma donations may not be for them, he added.
'But for students who don't mind needles, it's a really good alternative to a part time job,' Hintz said.
