March 29, 2022

As someone who may be thinking about becoming a plasma donor, you are probably asking yourself why you should donate plasma instead of blood. Plasma donation and blood donation are both great ways to give back! They are used to save countless lives and help patients in need. But while these processes do have a lot of similarities, they also have quite a few differences that you should know about. 

In this blog, we will be going over all the reasons you may want to donate plasma instead of blood. 

What Is the Difference Between Blood and Plasma?

Before we delve into all the differences between blood donation and plasma donation, it’s important to first distinguish the difference between these two bodily fluids. 

Blood is a constantly flowing reddish fluid that is composed of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. It circulates throughout your body and delivers oxygen and nutrients to your body’s cells. Blood also helps remove carbon dioxide and other waste materials from your body. 

Plasma is the largest part of your blood, and it makes up roughly 55% of its overall content. This yellowish liquid is responsible for several essential functions in the body, including clotting blood and fighting diseases. 

What Is the Difference Between Donating Blood and Plasma?

There are quite a few differences between blood donation and plasma donation. The most notable differences include compensation, what they are used for, and the time required for each of these processes. 

Here are some reasons why you may want to donate plasma instead of blood:

1. Plasma Donors Can Be Compensated

Unlike blood donations (which are unpaid), paid plasma donations are permitted in some places in Canada and around the world. There are numerous reasons why plasma donors are paid when blood donors are not, some of which include the time commitment that is required of plasma donors and the fact that the only sustainable way to collect enough plasma is through paid donations. In fact, the United States, a country that permits paid plasma donations, supplies two-thirds of the world’s plasma. 

At Canadian Plasma Resources, we give our donors the opportunity to earn up to $400/month for their contributions. 

2. Plasma Helps Patients with Rare Conditions

Plasma donations are specifically used to treat over 80 different autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiencies, and rare blood disorders. Blood donations, on the other hand, are often used for blood transfusions. Donated blood may also be separated into its individual components and used for other medical purposes. 

If you would like to specifically help patients with rare and chronic diseases manage their conditions, plasma donation may be the right choice for you. Source plasma donations bring in three times more plasma than just removing plasma from blood donations, and the patients who receive plasma protein therapies often need these treatments for the rest of their lives. The more source plasma donations that can be made, the better!

3. Plasma Is a Great Way to Get Me-Time

Lastly, plasma donation is a great way to get some me-time! The plasmapheresis portion of the plasma donation process, which involves separating plasma out from other blood components and returning those other components to the body, takes approximately 50 minutes to complete. You can pass the time as you please during these 50 minutes and do things that you normally can’t fit into your schedule, like reading or listening to your favourite podcast!

A whole blood donation usually takes anywhere from eight to 10 minutes to complete. 

Even though blood donation and plasma donation are both amazing acts of kindness that can ultimately save lives, there are evidently many reasons why someone may choose to do the latter. If you’re interested in giving back and getting compensated all while enjoying some me-time, book a plasma donation appointment today!

February 28, 2022

Plasma is the most abundant component of our blood. It contains specialized proteins that help fight off infections and can be used to create life-saving medicines. These medicines, which are also commonly referred to as plasma protein therapies, treat a host of rare and chronic diseases. 

If you’d like to learn more about the conditions plasma is used to treat, keep reading to find out. 

What Is Plasma Made Of?

Plasma is a straw-coloured mixture made of water, salts, and proteins. The proteins contained in it include:

• Immunoglobulins
• Alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor 
• Clotting factors
• C1 esterase inhibitor

Each of these proteins can be used to create therapies that treat specific diseases. 

What Does Plasma Donation Do?

Plasma donation is the process by which the plasma that is used to create life-saving therapies is collected. To collect plasma, donors undergo a process called plasmapheresis, which removes blood from the body, separates out plasma, and returns all other blood components to the body. This type of plasma donation is known as source plasma donation, and it brings in three times more plasma than just removing plasma from a blood donation. 

After plasma is collected, it undergoes an extensive manufacturing process that can take anywhere from seven to 12 months to complete. Once plasma has been manufactured into medicinal products, it is then administered to immunocompromised patients. 

Who Needs Plasma Therapies?

Plasma protein therapies are used to treat a number of bleeding disorders, autoimmune diseases, and immunodeficiencies. Here are some specific conditions that plasma is used to treat: 

1. Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases (PIDDs)

PIDDs are a group of more than 300 diseases that are caused by missing immunoglobulins, also known as antibodies. Antibodies are produced by your immune system in response to foreign invaders and can help prevent illness. 

Patients who have a PIDD often have persistent, recurrent infections and are chronically ill as a result. PIDDs can be treated with immunoglobulin replacement therapies. 

2. Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

This rare genetic disorder is caused by a lack of the protein alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor. Alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor protects your lung tissue from being damaged. 

Patients living with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency may have chronic emphysema and/or liver damage. Alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor therapies can help manage this condition. 

3. Hemophilia

Hemophilia is a bleeding disorder that is caused by missing or mutated clotting factor proteins. It causes recurrent bleeding episodes in the skin, muscles, and/or joints, the latter of which can ultimately lead to crippling joint disease. This disorder can be treated via hormone replacement therapies that are made from clotting factors. 

4. Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)

CIDP is a form of chronic autoimmune neuropathy that causes your immune system to attack your nerve coating. This, in turn, impairs the ability of your brain to deliver messages to your body. 

Impaired motor function, progressive weakness, and loss of limb function are some of the symptoms patients who have CIDP may experience. Intravenous immunoglobulin therapies can be used to treat this condition. 

5. Hereditary Angioedema 

Caused by missing or low levels of the C1 esterase inhibitor protein, hereditary angioedema is an inherited disorder that is characterized by persistent and severe swelling. This swelling can be fatal if your airway is obstructed. Plasma-derived products made from the C1-inhibitor protein are effective treatments for hereditary angioedema. 

The fact that plasma can be used to treat so many rare diseases is one of the reasons why plasma donation is so important. By donating plasma, you can help improve the lives of patients living with these conditions. Book your next plasma donation appointment today to change someone else’s life for the better. 

January 25, 2022

Plasma donation is an important, albeit lesser-known, type of donation. It is responsible for the creation of several different types of life-saving therapies for immunocompromised patients. 

Even though plasma is a component of blood, plasma donation and blood donation have notable differences. One of these differences is how frequently donors are permitted to donate. Plasma donors can safely give plasma up to twice per week. 

In this blog, we will be unpacking what the plasma donation process entails and why plasma donors can donate more frequently than blood donors. 

How Does Blood Plasma Donation Work?

Plasma donation is a four-step process that involves registering, screening, donating, and relaxing. Before prospective donors can give plasma, they first need to meet certain eligibility requirements and undergo screenings to ensure they are in good health. Some eligibility requirements for plasma donation include:

• Being between 17 and 68 years of age
• Weighing between 50-180 kg
• Not having had a tattoo or piercing done in the past six months
• Not having donated blood in the past 56 days

Once donors qualify to donate plasma, they can then proceed to the donating portion of the plasma donation process. This part of the process takes approximately 50 minutes to complete. During this time, donors are connected to a plasmapheresis machine, which separates plasma from other blood components and returns those other cellular components of blood to the body. Donors are free to read, watch TV, or listen to music while undergoing plasmapheresis. 

After a plasma donation has been made, donors can then relax and enjoy the snacks we provide in our waiting room. 

Why Donate Plasma Instead of Blood?

Both plasma and blood donations are used to do good and save lives, but there are a few reasons why you may opt to donate plasma over blood. 

If you’d like to specifically help patients living with immune disorders, autoimmune conditions, and rare blood disorders receive the treatments they need, plasma donation may be the right choice for you. Even though the plasmapheresis process is longer than the blood donation process, which takes about eight to 10 minutes to complete, it does enable larger quantities of plasma to be collected more frequently. That means more life-saving therapies for rare conditions can be made. 

Another reason you may want to donate plasma is compensation. Paid plasma donations are permitted throughout the U.S. and in certain provinces in Canada. Plasma donors receive compensation because of the time and effort that goes into giving plasma. It has also been proven time and time again that compensating donors is the only way to ensure a secure supply of plasma, as most of the global supply of plasma comes from countries that pay their donors. 

Why Can You Donate Plasma More Frequently Than Blood?

Whole blood donations can only be made every 56 days for males and every 84 days for females. Plasma donations, on the other hand, can be made twice in a seven-day period. This is because your body replenishes its plasma within 48 hours, but it can take anywhere from four to six weeks to replace blood. Since red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets are returned to the body during plasmapheresis, it is safe for donors to give plasma more frequently. 

At Canadian Plasma Resources, you can earn up to $400/month by consistently donating plasma twice per week! Book a plasma donation appointment at a centre near you to help others while also supplementing your income. 

December 30, 2021

Now that the festive season is winding down, you may be looking for a way to pay off your holiday bills. Plasma donation is a great way to do just that, but if you haven’t given plasma within Canada, you may have a few questions that need answering first. Keep reading to learn more about how you can go about getting paid for donating plasma!

Can You Get Paid to Donate Plasma in Canada?

Unlike the US, where people are allowed to be compensated for plasma donations throughout the country, paid plasma donations are only permitted in certain provinces in Canada. Provinces where you can potentially get paid to donate plasma include:

• Saskatchewan
• New Brunswick
• Alberta
• Manitoba
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Nova Scotia
• Prince Edward Island

You also need to meet certain eligibility requirements in order to get paid to donate plasma, like being between 17 and 68 years of age, weighing between 50 to 180 kg, and not having had a tattoo or piercing done in the past six months. 

Why Do You Get Paid for Donating Plasma?

There are numerous reasons why plasma donors get paid for their contributions, the first being the time commitment that is required for plasma donation. Repeat donors can expect their plasma donation appointments to take a little over an hour. This is due to the plasmapheresis portion of the plasma donation process where donors are connected to a specialized machine that extracts plasma and returns all other blood components to the body. 

Another reason plasma donors are compensated is because it is the only way to ensure a safe and sufficient supply of plasma therapies. Currently, the US, a country that compensates donors, is responsible for over 70% of all the plasma that is used to create life-saving medicines around the world. When grouped with other countries that also pay their donors, including Austria, Hungary, Germany, and the Czech Republic, 90% of the total global supply of plasma can be accounted for. 

How Much Can You Get Paid for Donating Plasma?

The amount of money you make from donating plasma largely depends on how frequently you donate and the volume of plasma you donate. At Canadian Plasma Resources, you can earn up to $400/month if you consistently donate between 875-975 ml of plasma twice per week. Typically, your compensation will be sent to you within 48 hours of each donation you make. 

Donors at Canadian Plasma Resources also get plenty of opportunities to earn monetary bonuses and gift cards at our centres. We regularly hold theme day events where donors who participate can earn $5 bonuses. Donors who give plasma at any time during the month are automatically entered to win $100 gift cards in our monthly Super Hero Prize Draws. 

Whether you want to spend the compensation you earn on paying off your holiday bills, saving up for a much-needed vacation, or putting money towards school, you can do all of those things by donating plasma. Plus, your donations will help patients in need. Book a plasma donation appointment at a centre near you to do good and get paid for it!

December 16, 2021

The holiday season is here, and one of the best ways to spread some cheer is by donating plasma! Plasma donation is a mutually beneficial act that benefits both donors and patients alike. If you’ve been thinking about donating plasma lately, we’re going to give you three reasons you should do just that in this blog!

What does plasma donation do?

Plasma donation is an incredible process that can ultimately help save lives. Plasma is a protein-packed component of blood that is used as a key ingredient in many medications. It sustains the lives of patients living with immune deficiencies, autoimmune diseases, and clotting disorders, but that can only happen because generous donors willingly choose to give plasma. 

What is donating plasma like?

The plasma donation process involves four steps – registering, screening, donating, and relaxing. During the donation portion of this process, donors are intravenously connected to a plasmapheresis machine that separates plasma from other cellular components found in blood and returns those other cellular components to your body. The plasmapheresis process takes approximately 50 minutes to complete. 

3 Reasons to Donate Plasma This Holiday Season

Now that you’re familiar with what plasma donation entails, let’s get into all the reasons you should give plasma during this time of year!

1. Get Some Me-Time

Because the plasmapheresis process takes roughly 50 minutes, you can get some much-needed me-time while donating plasma. During this time, you can read, watch TV, listen to a podcast, or put on your favourite tunes all from the comfort of our donor beds. 

Given how busy the holiday season can be, getting time to relax, unwind, and do what you please is a welcome respite! 

2. Earn Extra Spending Money

Plasma donation is an excellent way to supplement your income and earn extra spending money this holiday season! At Canadian Plasma Resources, we’ve always believed in compensating our donors for the time and effort they put into donating plasma. Compensating donors is also the only way to ensure a secure supply of plasma for patients who rely on plasma-derived treatments. 

You can earn up to $400/month when you donate plasma at our centres!

3. Help Others Enjoy the Holidays Too

Last but certainly not least, the holidays are all about the spirit of giving, and there’s no better gift to give than the gift of life! By donating plasma, you can help patients with rare and chronic diseases manage their conditions and lead healthier lives.  

All in all, plasma donation truly encompasses the spirit of the holiday season. If you’d like to give back and get rewarded for your contributions, book a plasma donation appointment today! Happy holidays!