When money is tight, sometimes you need to get a little creative in order to supplement your income. Some people do gig work like food delivery or Uber driving, but some people do something a little more invasive: donating plasma.
One Redditor, who goes by the handle JiveTurkeyJunction, has taken it to the extreme, treating plasma donation “like a part-time job.” They’ve earned $14,400 since May of 2023 just donating plasma, according to the screenshot from an apparent donation app they posted. Unsurprisingly, people had a whole lot of questions, and the OP was happy to answer. Here’s how they made the system work for them, and why you might want to consider donating as well.
What Is Plasma Donation?
First, let’s talk about what plasma donation is. Some people think it’s the same as blood donation, but it’s not.
Plasma is the liquid portion of your blood, which makes up about 55% of the volume, according to the American Red Cross. Plasma is made up of mostly water; red and white blood cells are suspended in it, along with proteins, fats, and vitamins, among other things.
In the medical field, it’s given to trauma and burn victims, and people with liver disease or clotting deficiencies. It’s used by pharmaceutical companies to create treatments for people who have bleeding disorders and immune deficiencies, so it has a wide range of life-saving applications.
When you donate plasma, your blood is taken from one arm and sent through a special machine that separates out the plasma. Then the blood cells and other components of your blood are mixed with saline and put back in your body.
How They Turned Plasma Donation Into $14k
Like blood donation, plasma donors are usually paid each time they donate. In order to rack up $14,400 in under three years over 234 visits, JiveTurkeyJunction said they donate twice a week, treating it like a part-time job. They were able to go the same day and time each week, which probably helped it feel more like a job than something like a doctor’s appointment.
At the donation center they attend, they get paid “$50 for the first donation of the week and $75 for the second,” they explained. “They usually run monthly specials. For example, if you donate 6 times in the month of January they will add an extra $35 on the 6th donation.” Based on the numbers other commenters chimed in with, that amount (and the bonuses) are typical for plasma donation.
When asked how long the donations take, JiveTurkeyJunction had some very specific answers. “In the chair, my shortest time has been 42 minutes,” they said. “The longest has been 88 minutes. I average about 56 minutes. The whole process takes, on average, about 105 minutes per visit.”
‘I Would be Dead Without People Like You Donating’
If you need some extra cash and want to try donating plasma to get it, there are a couple of things to keep in mind first.
The big one, of course, is that you have to be OK with needles and seeing blood. If you tend to faint easily when you’re having blood drawn, this is probably not a good idea for you. When in doubt, check with your doctor, or call a local plasma donation center for more information.
If you do donate as much as JiveTurkeyJunction does, you should also be aware that plasma donation income is taxable — Uncle Sam wants his cut, even if you’re doing a selfless and charitable thing. “Dang talk about adding insult to injury to poor people,” said one commenter regarding taxes.
And finally, plasma donation isn’t just a way to make a quick buck. It actually does save lives. “My father in law just finished treatment for Guillain-Barre syndrome,” read the most popular comment in the Reddit thread. “People like you are the reason he may be able to walk again.”
“I get infusions every month that are made from the immunoglobulins found in other people’s plasma,” shared a commenter. “There is no synthetic version. I would be dead without people like you donating.”
Another commenter summed it up well: “I love hearing stories about how plasma saves people, and then folks commented that they were doing it because they need to buy groceries or pay a bill. It’s something that helps all involved. Even though I wish people didn’t have to donate plasma, I am glad to know that it benefits people all-around.”
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