As the saying goes, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. This adage is even truer when it comes to donating plasma! A nutritious breakfast can help stabilize your blood sugar levels, keep you energized, and minimize the risk of complications during plasma donation. Here are some breakfast options to consider:

Certain foods and beverages can affect the quality of your plasma and your overall well-being during the plasma donation process. Here’s what to avoid:

Though nutrition is key to improving your plasma donation, here are a few extra things you can do to make your experience even more comfortable:

1. Recent illness

If you have recently been ill or are currently experiencing symptoms of illness (cold, flu, COVID-19, sore throat, for example), you may be temporarily deferred. This precaution prevents the spread of infection and ensures both your well-being and the one of the recipients of your plasma donation. That’s why it’s important to refrain from donating until you’ve fully recovered.

2. Tattoos

If you got a tattoo within the last 3-6 months, you may be ineligible to donate plasma. The waiting period typically depends on how long it takes for the tattoo to heal fully. The reason behind this deferral is that needles, especially if unclean, can carry bloodborne illnesses that may not be immediately detectable when your blood gets tested.

3. Medication, surgery, and medical procedure

If you are on medication but still want to donate plasma, consult the medical staff at your center. Certain medications, such as antibiotics or antidepressants, and some vaccines may not be compatible with the donation process, necessitating a temporary suspension. Additionally, some pain medications can affect platelet counts; however, you can donate plasma if you stop taking them 48 hours prior to your appointment. If you’ve recently undergone surgery or specific medical procedures, including dental work, you may be temporarily deferred to allow time for your recovery and to ensure your overall well-being before you resume donation activities.

4. Anemia and iron levels 

If the hemoglobin test reveals that your hemoglobin level is lower than normal, it means you have a low red blood cell count. Anemia could therefore be a reason for temporary exclusion from donation. If you are a woman, your hemoglobin level must be at least 12.5 g/dL; for men, the minimum level is 13.0 g/dL. Below these values, you will not be able to donate. Low iron levels can also lead to a temporary deferral because insufficient levels may impact your well-being.

5. Pregnancy or recent childbirth

Being pregnant or having recently given birth can be another reason for your temporary deferral. Don’t worry! It’s a temporary condition that allows you time for recovery and protects your health and the one of your newborn.

6. Travels to high-risk areas

Have you recently traveled to regions with a high prevalence of infectious diseases (particularly those transmitted through blood)? Talk with your donation center because that could lead to a temporary deferral. 

Temporary deferrals are a fundamental aspect of the plasma donation process, reflecting the commitment of donation centers to maintain high standards of safety and quality. As donors generously contribute to the well-being of others, understanding and respecting temporary deferrals contributes to the overall success of plasma donation programs. By working with donation centers and following established guidelines, you play a vital role in advancing medical treatments and improving the lives of individuals around the world.

Plasma is the liquid part of your blood. It contains water and a small yet crucial portion of solid substances, such as proteins and antibodies. You can donate plasma along with whole blood or on its own. Plasma donations are vital for shock and trauma treatments, and are also used to make life-saving medicines. Let’s discover the many uses of plasma in medicine.

Plasma is a part of your blood, specifically the liquid one. In fact, 91-92% of it is water. The remaining percentage of plasma contains vital substances. In particular, these include:

Plasma provides nutrients, enzymes, and hormones to the body and helps remove waste.

Although it is an often-forgotten part of blood, it is the largest one, and its role, when donated, is often life-saving.

The use of plasma in medicine reached a turning point during World War II when its benefits became clear. It is easier to transport than blood and particularly suitable for shock treatment, such as burns and wounds.

Today, plasma is not only used for emergency treatments but also for chronic, rare, and autoimmune diseases and research.

Your plasma donation can be used for many purposes. Here are some of its most frequent uses:

Plasma transfusions help with excessive bleeding, and both its proteins and its antibodies can help treat the serious and chronic conditions just mentioned. Typically in these cases, the patient undergoes a treatment called plasmapheresis: the removal, return, or exchange of plasma. This is done with the help of a special machine.

However, the use of plasma for research purposes is equally important, since plasma-derived medicinal products are developed thanks to it.

In conclusion, the plasma you donate is essential for emergencies, but also to help provide the key ingredient for therapies that improve the quality of life of patients suffering from various rare, chronic, autoimmune and genetic diseases.

Because the donation process can be done frequently and accompany you throughout most of your life, it can be useful to learn and implement some practices to improve your plasma donor eligibility.

1. Maintaining a healthy weight for plasma donation

Did you know that your weight has an impact on your donation? If you weigh under 110 pounds, plasma donation could be considered too much of a strain on your body. If you are a petite person and hover around that weight, track your weight to stay above the cut-off line and help you feel your best while donating plasma.
You can maintain the right weight for donation by incorporating proteins (try to consume between 50 and 80 grams of protein per day) and by choosing foods that lower your blood pressure and keep cholesterol levels low (such as whole grains, fish, legumes, nuts, berries).
Monitor your weight regularly to identify any changes, and adjust your diet or exercise routine if necessary. Please keep in mind that your health always comes first. If you feel unwell during your donation, immediately inform your donation center staff.

2. The impact of lifestyle choices on plasma donation

Consuming alcoholic beverages may impact your eligibility for plasma donation.

Therefore, it is advisable to avoid them both before and shortly after donating. Alcohol can lead to dehydration, lower your blood pressure, and compromise the quality of your plasma. Generally, it’s best to moderate your alcohol intake as it can affect the donation process.

As for smoking, try to refrain from doing so before your appointment and for at least two hours afterwards to reduce the risk of dizziness or fainting. While there are no strict rules preventing smokers from donating plasma, the combustion process of cigarettes results in donors inhaling higher quantities of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. These substances are transferred into the blood, where they enter red blood cells and bind to hemoglobin, leading to less oxygenated blood. The diminished vitality of red blood cells could potentially disqualify you from donating.

3. Medication, substance use, and plasma donation 

In general, taking medication does not make you ineligible for plasma donation. However, some therapies may not be compatible with the process and may lead to a temporary suspension. This is the case, for example, with certain medications (such as antibiotics or antidepressants) and some types of vaccines. Also, some pain medications can affect your platelet count. You can still donate if you are able to stop taking them 48 hours before donation.

If you are taking medications but still wish to donate plasma, here is what you can do:

The use of cannabis does not disqualify an individual from donation and there is no data that specifies how long a donor should wait between cannabis use and plasma donation. 

4. Prioritizing safe practices for plasma donation 

Engaging in safe sexual practices is not only important for your overall health, but also for maintaining your eligibility as a plasma donor.

Sexually transmitted diseases like HIV and hepatitis can lead to temporary or permanent exclusion from plasma donation activities. So, remember to:

5. Navigating tattoo decisions as a plasma donor 

Are you thinking about getting a new tattoo? Consider that your new ink might have repercussions on your eligibility to donate plasma. In extremely rare cases, if the needle used to ink the tattoo was not properly disinfected, it could cause an infection that is not immediately detectable in the bloodstream. To protect the already vulnerable recipient of your generous plasma donation from potential infection, you will likely be temporarily deferred. This allows time for your tattoo to fully heal and ensures you have not contracted any infections.

To minimize the impact of your new tattoo on your plasma donor eligibility, consider these tips:

Whether you are a man or a woman, you can donate plasma twice within a seven-day period with at least 48 hours between donation visits. 

The volume collected depends on body weight, following the guidelines for plasma collection:

These volume limits are set to guarantee your safety while also providing an adequate supply of plasma for medical needs. 

You might have heard that women can donate less frequently than men. This only happens because statistically, women get more temporary deferrals due to pregnancy or other medical reasons, but in general, there is no reason to worry. You can donate as often as your center indicates as long as you are healthy and follow the standards for donation.

Doing good is good for you if you believe in the power of giving back. Regular donation helps you keep track of your health parameters like blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and weight. This may help reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) and increase good cholesterol (HDL) levels. 

In addition, donating plasma can provide a mood boost from helping others, increasing your sense of service to the community and your mental health.

If you are pregnant, unfortunately, you cannot donate plasma. This rule was put in place so that you can save all your energy for you and the baby until the end of the pregnancy. After delivery, you should wait at least six weeks to restore all your blood parameters to their previous levels before donating plasma again. 

What if you breastfeed after six weeks? You can donate if your doctor allows you to, according to the eligibility criteria that apply to all women.

Worried about donating during that time of the month? You can donate plasma during your menstrual period if you feel well and don’t have any health issues. In any case, if you are a frequent donor and a woman, it is always a good idea to regularly check your iron levels to make sure you don’t suffer from anemia.

There are no limitations regarding plasma donation once you have reached menopause if you feel fit and well on the day. You can also donate plasma if you are taking hormonal replacement therapy HRT or other complementary, herbal, or homeopathic alternatives, to alleviate menopause symptoms.

In addition, if you are an Rh-negative woman – which means that your blood type is negative and your blood cells lack the Rh protein called the D antigen – you can donate plasma for the Anti-D Program to prevent hemolytic disease in newborns. This is a condition where a mother’s immune system attacks her baby’s red blood cells if they are Rh-positive while she is Rh-negative.

Conditions like anemia, which often affect women more than men, may affect your donor eligibility. Even though plasma donation has lower iron requirements than whole-blood donation, keeping track of your hemoglobin levels is always a good idea for your health. 

Overall, plasma donation is a rewarding experience that all women can easily do as long as they prioritize their health and well-being.

Blood is essential to our bodies: it carries nutrients such as fats, proteins, and sugars, removes waste products, helps heal wounds, and distributes heat. Blood has many components, most notably a liquid part called plasma and a solid part that contains red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The latter are the best known, but plasma itself plays a fundamental role too. What is it made up of, and what does it do for your body?

Whole blood flows through our veins, and it makes up about 7-8% of our body’s weight. Typically, the male body contains up to 12 pints of blood, while the female body contains up to 9 pints.

Whole blood contains:

Therefore “blood” refers to the solid part, and “plasma” refers to the liquid part. The difference between blood and plasma is important when donating: you can donate whole blood or just a part of it, plasma.

Both whole blood and plasma are in high demand, especially in emergency medicine: they are often needed to treat trauma, injuries, and burns.

In addition to helping in cases of emergencies, plasma is also used in the treatment and research of rare, chronic, and autoimmune diseases.

Plasma is first formed in the embryo thanks to the umbilical cord. As the body develops, plasma proteins form in the soft tissue of the bones, called bone marrow. Plasma cells regenerate quickly, so donating plasma is completely safe. 

The main component of plasma is water, and it comes from the water absorbed through the digestive system.

When separated from the rest of your blood, it appears like a yellowish liquid that has the color of straw.

As we have seen, plasma is the liquid part of the blood, so its main component is water. It makes up for 91-92% of plasma, which is why drinking plenty of water after a plasma donation is highly recommended.

The remaining 7-8% contains several substances essential for your health and for the well-being of your body. It consists of:

Both whole blood and plasma play a fundamental role in the functioning of our bodies. Specifically, plasma is responsible for:

Plasma performs incredible functions for the body. By donating this precious ‘life-source’ you are helping people who have suffered some kind of trauma or whose own plasma cells don’t function as they should. Your donation helps re-regulate these fundamental processes, greatly improving the quality of life of patients worldwide.

Get a good night’s sleep

The main form of rest is, as you probably guessed, sleeping. Aim for around 8 hours of sleep the night before your donation to feel like you have plenty of energy. If you are well-rested, your body can cope better with the stress of donation and minimize the feeling of dizziness or tiredness that can sometimes happen.

Get ready

Hydration is key to improving your donation experience! Remember to drink a lot of water and avoid caffeinated and alcoholic beverages, because dehydration can increase the risk of fainting during your plasma donation. Having a balanced meal before your donation can also help stabilize your blood sugar levels and prevent dizziness or light-headedness.

Fainting

If you are very tired on donation day, you could risk feeling faint during or after giving plasma. To prevent this from happening, you can follow the following steps during the donation process:

Can I donate plasma with no sleep?

In theory, you can. But remember that even if you feel tired, donors cannot sleep during the actual donation process. Being alert and awake ensures the safety and efficiency of the donation process, so try to get some shut-eye before coming to your center!

Rest immediately after the donation

Take your time getting up from the donation chair. Rest for around 5 minutes in the donor chair to make sure you feel well and are ready to get up. Once you are up, relax in the refreshment area for 15-20 minutes before leaving the donation center. Should you feel dizzy, remember your center staff is always there to help. You can also drink or eat something to rehydrate and reinforce your body before leaving the plasma donation center.

Can I work out after donating plasma?

Unfortunately, no. For the rest of the day following your donation, it is crucial to avoid strenuous activities. Do not lift any heavy objects or go to the gym for an intense workout. Self-care and rest are important to help your body recover faster from the donation process.

By following these practical tips, you can guarantee a safe and comfortable plasma donation experience while contributing to a vital cause. So do not forget to take your well-deserved rest next time you donate!