Plasma Donation FAQ | Grifols Plasma (2024)

Yes. Thousands of people safely and painlessly donate plasma every day. Plasma donation is performed in a highly controlled, sterile environment by professionally trained medical team members following strict safety guidelines for each donor's comfort and well-being. Grifols uses sterile, one-time-use materials that are disposed of immediately.

Donating plasma is a low-risk procedure with minimal or no adverse effects. Before donating, you'll receive information and instruction on the plasmapheresis process from Grifols plasma donation center team members. They will discuss the risks of adverse reactions, injuries and events that may occur during or after plasma donation, and they will give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. Contact your Grifols plasma donation center for more information.

No. To protect our donors' health and minimize the risk of donating more often than permitted, donors aren’t allowed to donate at more than one center. All plasma donation centers communicate regularly to verify that donors are complying with this policy.

Our health screenings include having a small blood sample taken from your finger, having your vital signs checked and being asked a series of questions. We conduct a screening every time you donate to ensure you’re in good health and meet the plasma donation criteria.

All donors must be screened for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C at each donation using nucleic amplified testing (NAT), a state-of-the-art method that tests for the DNA particles of the virus. In addition, each plasma donation is tested for antibodies that the body produces in response to a virus.

Individuals who test positive for HIV, Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C are immediately referred to a physician or clinic for formal medical diagnostic testing and treatment. They are also permanently deferred and excluded from donating plasma and are added to the National Donor Deferral Registry. These regulations are in place for everyone’s safety.

Yes. Every donor must be screened for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C at each donation using nucleic amplified testing (NAT). This state-of-the-art method tests for DNA particles of viruses. Each donation undergoes a serological test that looks for antibodies that the body produces in response to a virus. These screening tests are performed at Grifols laboratories and are not considered a formal medical diagnosis.

Donating plasma takes longer than donating blood due to thorough health screening requirements and the process of separating the plasma from blood. The first plasma donation can take between two and two and a half hours. It includes a physician examination, comprehensive medical screening and testing, and verification of donor identification and local address. Return donations typically take between one and one and a half hours and include a donor health screening, donor verification and testing.

It's recommended that you wait two-to-three days after donating plasma before donating whole blood. And after you've donated a unit of whole blood, the recommendation is to wait eight weeks (56 days) before donating plasma.

An applicant donor is a donor who has donated one time only. That donor's plasma is never used to produce any Grifols medicine and is destroyed if the donor does not return for a second donation. A qualified donor has donated twice with negative test results and has continued to donate with less than six months between donations.

People who are disqualified from donating plasma are known as deferred donors. A prospective donor may be deferred at any point. Whether a person is deferred temporarily or permanently depends on the specific reason for disqualification. A permanently deferred donor is forever disqualified from donating plasma. A temporarily deferred donor will not be able to donate until a specific amount of time has passed and/or another requirement has been met, such as seeing your personal healthcare provider. Then, the donor may visit a Grifols plasma donation center to be reassessed for eligibility to resume donating. All eligible donors must satisfy all donation criteria and requirements.

If your deferral is permanent, we will let you know. Otherwise, the deferral time depends upon the reason for deferral. Before each plasma donation, you'll be given a health screening and medical interview. That's when we'll be able to determine if you're eligible to donate on that particular day.

Within 30 minutes of the plasma donation, samples are drawn and frozen in an on-site freezer. Once test results come in, all approved plasma units are transported to a Grifols warehousing facility, where they are held for a minimum of 60 days to confirm the donor's health and the safety of the plasma. After the final checks and testing are performed, plasma donations are sent to Grifols production facilities in Los Angeles, California; Clayton, North Carolina; or Barcelona, Spain, where producing lifesaving plasma medicine begins. It takes up to 12 months from the donation to when the product is available for patients.

Staying hydrated and eating properly beforehand are important parts of a healthy plasma donation. Make sure your diet is high in protein and avoid foods high in fat. Drink plenty of water, and avoid alcohol, tobacco and caffeine on the day before and the day of your donation.

Getting a good night's sleep before your donation and not smoking (for at least 30 minutes) before a donation is also important.

You’ll be comfortably reclined during the donation as if you were donating blood. A needle will be placed into a vein in your arm, and your blood will be collected into sterile equipment (used only once). The plasma is separated from the red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, which are then returned to you through the same needle in your arm. At the end of the donation, you’ll be given fluids to help compensate for the plasma that was collected, and because your red blood cells are returned to you, you shouldn't feel weak or tired after donating. Feel free to bring a book or magazine to read or watch a show on your device via our WiFi.

Plasma donors must weigh at least 110 lbs (50kg), be in generally good health, and be between 18 and 69 years old.

Potential donors must undergo a thorough screening and selection process that begins with a medical exam. At every donation, donors must complete a comprehensive health history questionnaire to rule out individuals who engage in high-risk behaviors, have certain medical conditions or take medicines that may not be acceptable. Vital signs are checked at each donation, and blood samples are taken for screening tests to rule out transmissible diseases such as hepatitis and HIV and to check for proper liver function. Donors always come in contact with a minimum of four trained team members who assess their eligibility to donate.

To be eligible to donate, you must have a valid photo ID, proof of residence and a Social Security number or Border Crossing Card

There are many reasons you should donate plasma. Plasma is in high demand – and it cannot be created in a laboratory or synthetically produced. Knowing you've made a personal contribution toward improving the health of others is one of the most rewarding aspects of donating. Also, we know your time is valuable, so that's why we provide compensation for your efforts.

Grifols is a global healthcare company that has been improving people's health and well-being for more than 110 years. The company is a leader in plasma collection, with a network of more than 300 plasma donation centers in the U.S., and a top producer of plasma medicines. As a recognized leader in transfusion medicine, Grifols also offers a comprehensive portfolio of solutions designed to enhance safety from donation to transfusion. In addition, the company supplies tools, information and services that enable hospitals, pharmacies and healthcare professionals to efficiently deliver expert medical care. Grifols, headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, provides products and services in more than 110 countries.

Grifols donor centers provide significant benefits to the communities we operate in – including property taxes, jobs for local residents, contributions to the local economy and community engagement. Grifols also contributes through charitable donations, volunteer events and other outreach activities, programs and projects that help create safe and attractive environments for local residents and visitors. 

Grifols provides donor center employees with competitive salaries and a full range of employee benefits such as healthcare coverage, retirement savings options and continuing education. We have a rigorous training and career progression program that focuses on career advancement within the company. Grifols also encourages continuous learning for plasma center employees in an environment that focuses on additional opportunities, development and innovation.

Our positions range from entry-level positions for individuals with high school diplomas seeking career opportunities in the healthcare field to jobs for medically trained professionals – most of which are full-time positions. On-the-job training is offered for all positions, and all Grifols donation centers provide opportunities for advancement and cross-functional training. Many of these skills are readily transferable to other healthcare settings such as hospitals, doctors’ offices and clinical laboratories. Are you interested in a rewarding career with Grifols? Search available positions now.

Although medical emergencies associated with plasma donation are rare, on-site medical specialists are well trained to manage them when they arise. To help reduce the chance of a medical emergency, please answer all of the donor center staff’s questions honestly and to the best of your knowledge. In addition, donors must feel healthy and well on the day of the donation and meet all our donor eligibility requirements.

All Grifols plasma centers are licensed and regulated by the FDA and other international agencies. Each plasma donation center is inspected and certified by those agencies regularly in addition to being monitored by the International Quality Plasma Program (IQPP). State health officials also inspect plasma centers to verify compliance with certain laboratory testing requirements and procedures. Grifols also has a robust internal regulatory program that routinely inspects and verifies the company's quality assurance requirements.

Plasma is the liquid portion of blood that contains water, salts, enzymes, antibodies and other proteins. It's the single largest component (about 55%) of human blood and is what remains after red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and other cellular components are removed.

Safety has always been a core value and objective for Grifols. We are vigilant in our research of new and existing pathogen variants and mutations, and we routinely test our manufacturing processes and methods for the safety of our products. We also collaborate with industry member companies through the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association's (PPTA) Pathogen Safety Steering Committee and leading health authorities worldwide. Our active internal pathogen safety group carefully and continuously scrutinizes scientific publications and daily news addressing new and emerging pathogens.

Important Safety Information
Because Grifols products are made from human plasma, they may carry a risk of transmitting infectious agents, such as viruses and, theoretically, the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) agent.

Plasma donated at Grifols plasma donation centers is used to produce medicines to treat or prevent serious diseases and conditions in multiple therapeutic areas: pulmonology, hematology, immunology, neurology, infectious diseases and shock and trauma. A provider administers Grifols plasma medicines via infusion or subcutaneous injection. Many of these conditions require regular and lifelong treatment with plasma medicines.

A lot. About 130 plasma donations are needed to treat an adult with an immunodeficiency for one year, 900 to treat an adult with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency for one year and approximately 1,200 donations to treat an adult with hemophilia for one year.

No, it's not. Plasma can differ in the kinds and amounts of antibodies it contains. If a donor has specific antibodies in sufficient quantities, they may be considered a special donor. People may also have unique blood types that make them special donors as well. Learn more about our Specialty Plasma Programs.

Plasma donors represent a cross-section of society. The thorough selection process yields donors who are healthy members of the local community and seek to help patients with life-threatening illnesses.