Congratulations, you’re on the road to donating plasma! Donating plasma is a noble act that can save lives, but it’s essential to prepare your body adequately for the donation process. Proper nutrition plays a crucial role in ensuring a safe and comfortable plasma donation experience. In this guide, we’ll cover what to eat for breakfast before donating plasma, what not to eat, and what to eat in general before your plasma donation appointment.

1. Whole grains: Whole grain toast or oatmeal are excellent choices. They provide sustained energy and fiber to keep you feeling full.

2. Protein: Include lean sources of protein such as eggs, yogurt, or peanut butter. Protein helps maintain muscle strength and overall health.

3. Fruits: Opt for fresh fruits like bananas, apples, or berries. They provide vitamins and natural sugars for a quick energy boost.

4. Beverages: Though it may be hard to sacrifice your morning coffee or tea, it is best to limit your intake of caffeine before a plasma donation as it can lead to dehydration. Start your day with a glass of water or juice to stay hydrated.

1. Fatty snacks and treats prior to your donation. These foods can have a negative impact on blood tests, potentially preventing you from donating.

2. Fasting before your donation. It is important you’ve eaten a healthy meal within a few hours before your donation.

3. Fatty foods to avoid include but are not limited to: 

• Sweets/candy
• Burgers
• Potato chips
• Pizza
• French fries
• Ice cream

Remember that healthy fats are okay. These include avocado, fatty fish, eggs, nuts, cheese, and full-fat yogurt.

4. Avoid drinking alcohol for 24 hours before your plasma donation. Alcohol can lead to dehydration, making it difficult for you to donate.

1. Eat a protein and iron-rich meal no more than a few hours before your donation. You do not want an empty stomach! Protein-rich foods include but are not limited to

• Yogurt
• Chicken
• Eggs
• Beef
• Cheese
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Beans
• Iron-rich foods include but are not limited to:
• Chicken
• Ham
• Beef
• Certain breakfast cereals
• Beans
• Watermelon
• Turkey
• Broccoli & leafy greens

2. Much like with food, what you drink is an essential factor in the overall health of your blood plasma. Drink plenty of water before and after donating. Drinking water is so important because it directly affects how full your vein is and how your plasma is separated. Make sure you have plenty of H2O in the 12 hours before and after your donation.

1. Get a good night’s sleep before donating your plasma, as it’ll allow for a quicker recovery and a more plentiful donation.

2. Ensure your sleeves can be pushed up so the center team can easily access the veins in your arms.

3. Consider bringing a light sweater to keep warm during the donation process.

4. Bring any personal items that will help you feel as relaxed and comfortable as possible.

5. Pack your phone, a book, or headphones to help pass the time. (All KEDPLASMA centers have free WiFi!)

Following these tips and keeping yourself healthy will make you eligible to donate plasma and save lives. At KEDPLASMA, our donors are our priority, and we thank you for your continued contributions.  We have 70 locations nationwide, find your closest center here.

• Communicate with your center’s medical staff: Before donating plasma, inform them about the medications you are currently taking and inquire if there are any specific contraindications to donating plasma.
• List your medications: When you go to donate plasma, provide a comprehensive list of the medication you are taking. This will help the staff better assess your eligibility.

• Use condoms during sexual intercourse to prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases.
• Be honest during your plasma donation screening process: being transparent about potentially risky sexual behaviors could make a huge difference in safeguarding the health of the recipient of your plasma.

• Have your tattoo done at a fully licensed establishment in the US.
• Avoid getting a tattoo on your inner arm, where you connect to the plasma donation machine.
• Try to schedule your tattoo when you plan to donate less frequently.

• Practice deep breathing exercises to help calm your nerves and maintain steady oxygen levels. This can prevent dizziness and fainting episodes.

• Remember that crossing your legs can restrict blood flow and increase the risk of fainting, so keep your legs uncrossed and relaxed during the donation process.

• If you start feeling light-headed or unwell, don’t hesitate to inform your center staff immediately. They are trained to assist you and can take the necessary steps to ensure your well-being.

First, it is important to understand that donating plasma is very different from donating blood. During plasma donations, we only take your plasma. Your red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are all returned back to your body. In whole blood donations, ALL of these blood components are taken and donated – plasma, red and white blood cells, and platelets. That is why, with whole blood donations, you must wait longer between donations.

Plasma donation is a safe and comfortable process that takes a little over an hour. If you are donating for the first time, you will undergo a medical screening to make sure you are healthy and fit. Our professionally trained staff will monitor your plasma donation to make sure you are comfortable at all times. All our centers use sterile plasma collection equipment to eliminate the possibility of transmitting viral infections.

To ensure your continued health and safety during plasma donation, there are limits to how frequently you are able to donate. You may donate plasma twice in a seven-day period and need at least one day in between donations. So, on average you can donate plasma about 4 times a month. Your body quickly replaces the lost plasma, which is why you’re able to donate fairly frequently!

If you’ve recently donated blood, you must wait 8 weeks until you can donate blood or plasma again. This is why many individuals thinking of donating both will donate plasma FIRST. By donating plasma first, you only have to wait a few days before you are able to donate blood.

To donate regularly, make sure to take care of your health and listen to your body. Prioritize a good nutrition, stay hydrated and rest well. We are so thankful for our donors who ask insightful questions and contribute their life-saving plasma. Anytime you have questions, pop into your nearest KEDPLASMA center or give us a call. We will be happy to walk you through the donation process, safety precautions, and more.

Although the donation process takes about 90 minutes, there is an easy way to speed up the process – HYDRATE!  If you are hydrated, your veins will be easier to find, and your blood will flow more easily. You may ask yourself, how much water should I drink before donating plasma? The American Red Cross suggests drinking an extra 16 ounces of water before and after your donation —even if you don’t feel thirsty. Ideally, you should start drinking one or two days before your plasma donation to prepare your body. You can also sip on water during your donation to keep your blood more fluid. Finally, remember to avoid caffeinated drinks and alcohol before your plasma donation because these beverages can lead to dehydration.

Did you know you can get some water intake through your food? Although 80% of your daily water intake usually comes from beverages, the other 20% usually comes from foods. Here are some examples of foods that are high in water content:

Cucumber

Tomatoes

Lettuce

Apples

Celery

Watermelon 

Grapefruit 

Peaches

Berries

Zucchini

Another tip for donating plasma faster is avoiding high-fat food. These foods slow down your digestion, make your blood ‘sludgier’ and, therefore, more difficult to separate. Sometimes, these foods can negatively influence your blood results and prevent you from donating altogether. Choose healthy alternatives like lean proteins, whole grains, and fruit and vegetables.  

Feeling physically comfortable while donating positively impacts how fast you donate. Choose loose and cozy clothes that you can easily remove, and with sleeves you can pull up and down. Staying warm during your plasma donation can also help you donate faster. When you feel warm, your blood vessels dilate and help the blood circulate more freely. Conversely, when you feel cold, your body shivers and tenses, constricting your veins and slowing your blood flow. Don’t hesitate to ask for a blanket if you feel cold during your plasma donation. To help you feel relaxed, consider listening to soothing music and taking slow and deep breaths during your donation.

Using a ball squeezer, sponge ball, or stress ball can help speed up your plasma donation process by 15% to 20% on average. This technique significantly increases the blood flow that feeds into the donation needle. To achieve the best results, squeeze your ball every 5 to 10 seconds and try to synch the movement to your breathing. Even though it may seem complicated initially, veteran plasma donors easily use the rhythmic squeezing technique while reading or doing other simple activities.

Save around 10 minutes of your total donation time and get priority access by completing your donor questionnaire directly from home. Questionnaires are valid only the day they are completed. New donors or donors that haven’t donated in 180 days must complete their history questionnaire at their KEDPLASMA donation center.

Complete questionnaire(s) the day of your donation in a private setting without assistance (go to the questionnaire)

Receive a QR code to scan at your donation center

Donating plasma is a generous act that can profoundly impact the lives of those in need. By following these tips, including staying well-hydrated, you can make your plasma donation faster and more comfortable.

Lightheadedness, dizziness, or, in extreme cases, fainting can sometimes happen during the donation process. Usually, these side effects can be prevented by drinking plenty of water and eating a healthy meal before and after donating your plasma. In most cases, fainting occurs when a donor is fasting before donation or has a very strong fear of needles.

As you may know from standard blood tests, needles can sometimes cause some bruising. During plasma donation, some donors might experience minor bruising (although this is uncommon). As you may know, some people’s veins are harder to access than others. This is why we regularly train all of our KEDPLASMA phlebotomists (those amazing employees who take your blood) and match every donor with the right phlebotomist for their vein type. This should make donating even easier than before!

It’s not uncommon to feel a bit tired after donating plasma. This is your body’s way of responding to losing fluids and proteins. Staying hydrated and having a light snack can help alleviate this. We also recommend not doing strenuous physical activity immediately after donating to give your body some time to recover.

In some rare cases, donors might feel like they have a headache after donating plasma. This is often due to dehydration. Since plasma contains a lot of water, it is very important to drink a lot of water (around 16 ounces) to prepare and replenish your liquids after donation. Please note that dehydration after donating plasma is usually not severe and passes quickly.

Some donors wonder if they’re at risk for disease during the donation process. Absolutely not! For each and every donation, a new, sealed, sterile, one-time-use package is used to collect your plasma.  The needle placement site is sterilized. Your blood never leaves the closed system during the process. 

Plasma donation is safe, easy, and life-changing for patients worldwide who need your help. What are you waiting for? Head into your nearest KEDPLASMA center and donate today!