October 21, 2021

Plasma donation is an amazing way to help patients in need and earn extra money, but most people are not very familiar with what it entails. Unlike blood donation, plasma donation involves the use of a specialized device known as a plasmapheresis machine. This machine is specifically used to collect plasma, a straw-coloured liquid portion of blood, and return other blood components to the body. It is because of this process that plasma donors are able to safely donate up to twice per week!

If you’d like to learn more about how plasmapheresis works, keep reading to find out.

What Is Plasmapheresis?

Plasmapheresis is the process used to collect source plasma. During this process, donors are intravenously connected to a plasmapheresis machine, which withdraws all blood components, separates plasma from other blood cells, and returns those other cells to the body. This process takes approximately 45-50 minutes to complete.

What Is The Goal of Plasmapheresis Treatment?

The goal of plasmapheresis is to separate and remove protein-rich plasma so that it can be manufactured into life-saving therapies.

Plasma is capable of treating over 80 different rare and chronic diseases. However, the patients who rely on plasma-derived treatments often need to receive them for the rest of their lives, and it can take up to 1,200 donations to treat one patient for a year. This is why continued plasma donations are so important!

What Are the Side Effects of Donating Plasma?

Just like with blood donations, there are side effects that can potentially occur when you donate plasma. These side effects may include dehydration, dizziness, fatigue, and/or bruising.

In order to minimize the potential of any side effects occurring, you can:

• Drink six to eight cups of water the day before and the day of your plasma donation.
• Refrain from consuming caffeinated and alcoholic beverages for 24 hours before your appointment.
• Eat a protein and iron-rich meal within three hours of your plasma donation appointment.
• Get a minimum of six to eight hours of sleep the night before giving plasma.
• Take the time to rest and replenish yourself with snacks and/or a drink after donating plasma.

At DB Plasma, we’ve also recently changed the plasmapheresis devices at our centres to further ensure donor safety and minimize side effects as much as possible. With the Aurora Plasmapheresis System we are now using, your red cell loss will never be greater than 200mL while undergoing plasmapheresis. This state-of-the-art machine also has a donor display on the side panel that will conveniently tell you when to squeeze your stress ball according to your venous pressure.

Plasmapheresis is an incredible process that has made it possible for patients with rare diseases to receive the treatments they need. If you would like to help change someone else’s life for the better, book your next plasma donation appointment today!

September 28, 2021

Plasma donation is a safe process that has long been used to collect blood plasma so that it can be manufactured into life-changing therapies. With that said, just like with whole blood donation, plasma donation can potentially have some unwanted side effects. Thankfully, there are simple things you can do to improve your chances of leaving your plasma donation appointment feeling as good as possible! Nourishing yourself properly is one of those things. 

If you’re relatively new to plasma donation, keep reading to find out about the iron-rich foods that can help optimize your experience!

How to Prepare for Blood Plasma Donation

One of the most important things to do before donating plasma is to eat a healthy meal with protein and iron-rich foods. This meal should ideally be consumed within two hours of your plasma donation appointment. 

Other things you can do to prepare for plasma donation include:

• Staying hydrated
• Getting a good night’s rest 
• Refraining from smoking tobacco
• Not consuming alcohol or caffeine
• Avoiding foods high in fat or cholesterol

Why Iron Levels Are Important for Blood Plasma Donation

Before donors give plasma, they undergo various health screenings to ensure they are fit to donate. One of the things that are measured is hematocrit levels, which is the proportion of red blood cells in your blood. This is an important measurement since some red blood cells are temporarily removed from your body during plasma donation. 

By eating an iron-rich diet, you can help keep your hematocrit within an acceptable range. 

7 Iron-Rich Foods To Eat Before Donating Plasma

Eating proteins rich in heme iron, which is the iron found in animal sources, is an excellent way to increase iron stores in your body before donating plasma. However, if you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, there are also great options for non-heme iron from plant sources that can help ensure you have healthy iron levels. 

Foods that are good sources of heme iron include:

1. Red meat: beef, lamb, pork, and veal. 
2. Poultry: chicken and turkey. 
3. Seafood: tuna, haddock, mackerel, shrimp, and clams. 
4. Eggs.  

Foods that are good sources of non-heme iron include:

5. Vegetables: spinach, peas, edamame, broccoli, sweet potatoes, collards, chard, and kale. 
6. Fruit: strawberries, watermelon, figs, dates, prunes, raisins, and dried apricots. 
7. Grains: oats, wheat products, and iron-fortified pasta, rice, or cereal. 

There you have it – seven iron-rich foods you can consume before donating plasma. By incorporating these foods into your pre-appointment meal, you can help make sure you qualify to donate and have a pleasant donation experience. Book your next appointment today!

September 24, 2021

Plasma is a protein-rich liquid component of blood that is used for various medical purposes. There is more than one way to collect plasma, and different types of plasma donations are sometimes used for different treatments. The two main types of plasma donations are source plasma donations and recovered plasma donations. 

In this blog, we’ll be explaining how these two types of plasma donations work and the differences between them. Let’s get into it!

What Is Plasma Donation? 

Plasma donation is the process of collecting a donor’s blood plasma. During source plasma donations, donors are intravenously connected to an apheresis machine. Apheresis machines draw whole blood, separate plasma from other blood components, and return red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets to donors’ bodies. This process is known as plasmapheresis. 

Recovered plasma, on the other hand, is collected via whole blood donations. After a blood donation is made, plasma is separated out from other cellular components. 

It is worth noting that donors can donate source plasma much more frequently than they can donate blood, which may or may not be separated into its individual components. Because the body replenishes plasma within 48 hours, donors can give plasma via plasmapheresis up to twice per week. By contrast, donors must wait eight weeks between whole blood donations. 

Overall, source plasma donations bring in much more plasma than recovered plasma donations do. 

How Do You Donate Plasma? 

In order to donate source plasma, you must first meet certain eligibility requirements. Some eligibility requirements for plasma donors at DB Plasma include:

• Being between 17 and 68 years of age.
• Weighing between 50kg to 180kg.
• Not having had a tattoo or piercing done in the past six months.
• Not having donated blood in the past 56 days.
• Having a permanent address within 100 km of a DB Plasma facility.

If you meet the initial requirements for plasma donation, you then have to fill out a donor health questionnaire and undergo a medical examination and testing on two separate occasions. Once you’ve completed the registering and screening process, you can then donate plasma. 

Whole blood donations also require donors to meet certain eligibility requirements before donating. 

What Is Plasma Used For?

Source plasma is used to create a number of life-saving therapies for patients living with rare and chronic diseases. Some of these treatments include intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) therapies, coagulation factor therapies, C1 esterase inhibitor therapies, and alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor therapies.

Many of the patients who rely on plasma-derived medicines must receive treatments for the rest of their lives. This is one of the reasons why continued source plasma donations are so important. 

Recovered plasma is used to create medicines and for plasma transfusions. Individuals may require a plasma transfusion due to trauma, burns, and/or shock. 

How Much Do You Get Paid To Donate Plasma?

Even though paid source plasma donations have been proven to be the only way to ensure a secure supply of plasma, they are only permitted in certain provinces. At DB Plasma, we give donors the opportunity to earn up to $400/month when they give plasma at our centres in Saskatoon and Moncton. 

Unlike source plasma donations, whole blood donations are unpaid – even when they are used for recovered plasma. Source plasma donations do, however, require more of a time commitment than whole blood donations do, which is part of the reason why we believe source plasma donors deserve to be paid for their contributions. 

All in all, donating plasma is a great way to help change someone else’s life for the better. If you’d like to help patients receive the treatments they need, book your next source plasma donation appointment at a centre near you! 

September 8, 2021

During the early months of the pandemic, many people heard the word “plasma” for the first time. Studies were being conducted on the efficacy of convalescent plasma as a treatment for COVID-19. Article after article was written about this potential treatment. 

Now that more than a year has passed, plasma is not in the headlines nearly as much as it once was. However, the need for it has not gone away. In this blog, we’ll be unpacking the true impact that the pandemic has had on plasma donations. 

What Is Plasma?

Before we get into how COVID-19 has impacted plasma donations, we first need to explain exactly what plasma is and differentiate between the types of plasma donations. 

Plasma is a yellowish liquid component of blood that contains hundreds of important proteins. Convalescent plasma is the plasma that is collected from an individual who has recovered from a virus. Source plasma, on the other hand, is plasma that is collected from healthy donors through a process called plasmapheresis. Source plasma donations are used to manufacture life-saving therapies for patients living with autoimmune disorders, immunodeficiencies, and blood disorders. 

The types of donations that are now in high demand are source plasma donations and recovered plasma donations, which is the plasma collected from whole blood donations. 

Why Is Plasma Donation Important?

Patients with rare and chronic disorders rely on source plasma donations to receive the treatments they need to live healthy and productive lives. Because the medical products that are manufactured from plasma are treatments, not cures, these patients will oftentimes need to receive them for the rest of their lives.

By voluntarily donating source plasma, you can help change someone else’s life for the better. 

How Plasma Donations Have Been Impacted By COVID-19

Even though the pandemic helped spread awareness about plasma, donations have been negatively impacted by social distancing, cleaning procedures, and fewer donors visiting centres. In fact, global plasma collections were down 15% in 2020, according to the Marketing Research Bureau. 

Given the fact that the global demand for plasma-derived medicines is rising by 6-8% every year, this trend is extremely concerning. Patients will start to feel the impact of this decline in donations in the coming months, as it takes anywhere from seven to 12 months to manufacture plasma into life-saving products. 

Like many sectors, the plasma industry was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. In order for immunocompromised patients to receive the treatments they need, donors will need to start giving plasma at the same levels they were pre-pandemic. 

If you’re an eligible plasma donor, you can make a big difference in someone else’s life by consistently donating plasma. Book your next appointment at a centre near you today. 

September 8, 2021

At DB Plasma, we’ve always stood behind paid plasma donations and compensated our donors for their contributions. We also continuously look for ways to optimize our compensation plan so that it’s beneficial for our donors and for the patients receiving plasma-derived treatments. 

As of Monday, August 10th, we will be implementing a brand new compensation plan at our centres! Here’s everything you need to know about our updated compensation and reward plan.

How DB Plasma’s New Compensation Plan Differs from the Old Plan

Instead of compensating donors based on the frequency of their donations, we will now also be factoring in the collected volume of plasma that donors give. We’ve decided to make this change so that we can reward donors who donate a larger volume of plasma. After all, the more plasma that is collected, the more life-saving therapies can be manufactured. 

For most donors, this new compensation plan will increase their compensation for their second visit of the week! 

How DB Plasma’s New Compensation Plan Will Work

With our new compensation plan, donors will still have their Orange Level, Silver Level, and Gold Level Super Hero Statuses. Your current Super Hero Status will not be impacted when the new plan comes into effect on Monday, August 10th. For example, if you are a Gold Level donor in the days leading up to the new plan being put in place, you will remain a Gold Level donor.

If you donate between 180ml and 684ml of source plasma, you will be eligible to receive $30 for your first donation of the week and $30 for your second donation of the week, for a total of $60 for two donations per week. Your Super Hero Status will not affect how much compensation you receive. Donors only donate this amount of source plasma when their plasmapheresis session is interrupted or cut short. 

If you donate between 685ml and 874ml of source plasma, you will be eligible to receive $30 for your first donation of the week, regardless of your Super Hero Status. As an Orange Level donor, you will be eligible to receive $50 for your second donation of the week; as a Silver Level donor, you will be eligible to receive $55 for your second donation of the week; as a Gold Level donor, you will be eligible to receive $60 for your second donation of the week. This is the current compensation scheme we have in place, so if you donate this amount of plasma there will be no change to the amount of compensation you receive. 

Lastly, if you donate between 875ml and 975ml of source plasma, you will be eligible to receive $30 for your first donation of the week, regardless of your Super Hero Status. As an Orange Level donor, you will be eligible to receive $55 for your second donation of the week; as a Silver Level donor you will be eligible to receive $60 for your second donation of the week; as a Gold Level donor, you will be eligible to receive $65 for your second donation of the week. The majority of our donors will fall into this category and be able to earn more with our new compensation plan! 

How Compensation for Special Circumstances Will Change

We are also making changes to the compensation donors are eligible to receive when their source plasma units are rejected for being hyperlipidemic, overrun with red blood cells, or under our minimum volume level. Donors will be eligible to receive $10 when the new plan is implemented!

There will be no changes in compensation for “No Bleed”, “Sample Only”, or “Unsuccessful Venipuncture” visits:

• Donors will not be eligible to receive compensation for “No Bleed” visits, which occur when they are deferred by a physician substitute after filling out a questionnaire. 
• Donors will be eligible to receive $10 for “Sample Only” visits, which occur when they have been deferred for a certain period of time and come in to get a blood sample taken to see if they will be eligible to donate at a later date. 
• Donors will be eligible to receive $10 for “Unsuccessful Venupuncture” visits, which occur when donors pass their screening but are unable to donate plasma. 

We’re looking forward to implementing our new compensation plan on August 10th and giving our donors a well-deserved opportunity to increase their compensation! Book your next plasma donation appointment today to contribute to a worthwhile cause and get compensated for doing so. 

July 22, 2021

Staying well-hydrated is extremely important, especially during the summer months. Drinking enough water every day is crucial for preventing infections, delivering nutrients to cells, and keeping your organs functioning properly. 

For plasma donors, being well-hydrated is necessary for a successful donation. Keep reading to learn more about why staying hydrated before your plasma donation appointment is so important and what you can do to ensure you’ve consumed enough water!

How Does Hydration Affect Plasma Donation? 

Since plasma is 90% water, your level of hydration while donating plasma will impact the viability of your donation. Drinking enough water directly affects how full your vein is and how your plasma is separated during the plasmapheresis process. Ideally, you should drink six to eight cups of water on the day of your donation!

How Can I Tell If I’m Dehydrated?

Dehydration can happen at any time of the year, but it is especially common during the summer months. As a plasma donor, it’s good to know the signs of dehydration to look out for. Here are some symptoms of dehydration you should be aware of:

• Feeling thirsty
• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded 
• Fatigue
• Confusion
• Dry mouth, lips, or eyes
• Less frequent urination and/or dark coloured urine

Tips For Drinking More Water

Even though everyone knows how important drinking water is, it can still be difficult to do at times. These five simple ways to drink more water will help you ensure you’re hydrated for your plasma donation appointment: 

1. Set a SMART Daily Goal

SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound) goals are a well-established tool you can use to achieve your goals. Setting a SMART goal for your water intake can help keep you motivated and make drinking enough water a daily habit. 

2. Carry A Reusable Water Bottle With You

Carrying a reusable water bottle with you everywhere you go is a great way to make sure you never go thirsty! It also serves as a visual reminder that you need to drink water no matter where you are or what you’re doing. 

3. Flavour Your Water

Not everyone likes the taste of water, and that’s ok! If you fall into that category, there are several ways you can flavour your water in order to drink more of it, including infusing it with fruit or using store-bought water enhancers. 

4. Set Reminders

If you’re forgetful or live a very busy lifestyle, setting reminders to drink more water either through an app or through the alarm feature on your smartphone can be extremely helpful. For example, you can set an alarm to go off every hour to remind yourself to finish your current glass of water. 

5. Consume Water Throughout the Day

The best way to ensure you’re drinking enough water is to sip on it throughout the day. Drinking a glass of water as soon as you wake up in the morning and always having water in arm’s reach can help you boost your water intake. 

At the end of the day, the more hydrated you are, the more healthy you’ll be, and your plasma donation appointment will go much smoother as a result! Book your next appointment today to help provide immunocompromised patients with the treatments they need – and don’t forget to drink plenty of water on the day of your donation!

June 30, 2021

Plasma donation is a wonderful act that can help save lives and provide you with some much-needed me-time. Donors who give plasma at DB Plasma also get the unique opportunity to be compensated for their contributions! 

If you’ve been thinking about becoming a plasma donor and are wondering what to expect, you’ve come to the right place! Here’s how you can prepare for your first appointment and make it as seamless as possible.

What To Do Before Donating Plasma

As a donor, there are certain things you can do to better your chances of donating healthy plasma, a yellowish liquid component of blood that contains important proteins. The healthier your plasma is, the more likely it is that it will be used to create life-saving therapies. 

Here are some things you can do to better ensure your plasma gets put to good use:

• Drink 6-8 cups of water on the day of your donation.
• Eat a protein and iron-rich meal a few hours before donating. 
• Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep the night before donating. 
• Refrain from smoking for at least 8 hours prior to your appointment. 
• Don’t eat fatty foods or drink caffeinated beverages or alcohol at least 6 hours prior to donating.  

It’s also a good idea to wear loose and comfortable clothing to your plasma donation appointment!

What to Bring to Your Plasma Donation Appointment

Certain documentation is required for donors to proceed past the registration portion of the plasma donation process. Three pieces of documentation you’ll need to bring to your appointment are:

• A valid photo identification
• A document that shows proof of address
• A social insurance card

Since the donating portion of the plasma donation process takes approximately 50 minutes to complete, you may also want to bring something along to pass the time.

What to Expect During Your First Plasma Donation Appointment

Plasma donation is a four-step process that involves registering, screening, donating, and relaxing. You can expect your first plasma donation appointment to take up to two and a half hours to complete. Subsequent appointments will be easier and faster. 

Our amazing staff are always on hand to assist donors through every step of the plasma donation process. They are also more than willing to answer any plasma or donation-related questions you may have. If you’d like to have a snack or drink after you’ve made your donation, feel free to ask our reception staff! 

At DB Plasma, we’re always happy to welcome new donors to our centres. To get involved in a good cause and join our amazing community of donors, book an appointment at a centre near you today!

June 23, 2021

Plasma is a straw-coloured liquid component of blood that contains life-saving proteins. Thousands of people around the world rely on donated source plasma to get access to the treatments they need. It is an essential material that cannot be synthetically produced, which is one of the many reasons why plasma donation is so important.

Curious about who exactly benefits from the plasma donations you make? Keep reading to find out!

Who Needs Plasma Therapies?

Over 80 different autoimmune disorders, immunodeficiencies, and blood disorders can be treated with plasma protein therapies. These diseases and conditions affect a relatively small percentage of the population, so they are considered rare. Most of these conditions are also genetic and chronic. 

The plasma protein therapies created from donated source plasma are used to replace missing or deficient proteins in these patients. Patients typically require regular infusions or injections throughout their lives. When individuals with rare and chronic conditions receive plasma protein therapies, it allows them to lead healthier and more productive lives. 

Types of Plasma Therapies

There are four main types of plasma therapies that can be manufactured from donated source plasma: 

1. Alpha-1 Proteinase Inhibitor Therapies

This plasma-derived therapy is used to treat individuals living with alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency, one of the most common and serious hereditary disorders in the world. If left untreated, the condition can result in life-threatening liver disease or lung disease. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is also commonly referred to as genetic emphysema. 

2. Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg) Therapies

Life-saving IVIg therapy treatments are used to treat several rare and chronic diseases, including:

• Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases: A group of more than 150 rare diseases that are characterized by compromised immune system function. 
• Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP): A rare autoimmune disorder that targets the body’s nerves and can cause weakness and/or paralysis.
• Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP): A blood disorder that causes reduced blood platelet levels, which are essential for blood clotting. 
• Kawasaki Disease: An illness that causes inflammation in blood vessels and primarily affects children under the age of five. 

3. C1 Esterase Inhibitor Therapies

C1 esterase inhibitor therapies are used to treat hereditary angioedema (HAE), a disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of severe swelling. HAE is caused by a missing C1 esterase inhibitor protein (C1-INH), which is responsible for helping to regulate inflammation. 

4. Coagulation Factor Therapies

Coagulation factors, which are proteins in the blood that help with proper blood clot formation, are used to treat various bleeding disorders. Some of these disorders include:

• Antithrombin III Deficiency: A blood disorder that is caused by an abnormal gene that may lead to blood clots forming.  
• Hemophilia A: An inherited bleeding disorder that is caused by a lack of clotting factor VIII. 
• Hemophilia B: A rarer form of hemophilia that is caused by a mutation in the Factor IX gene. 
• Von Willebrand Disease: The most common bleeding disorder. It is an inherited disorder that affects men and women equally, though women are more likely to notice the symptoms of the condition. 

Donated source plasma is capable of treating a number of rare and chronic conditions, and scientists continue to find new uses for this “liquid gold” every day. Without continued plasma donations, patients wouldn’t be able to receive the plasma-derived treatments they need to live life to the fullest. Book your next appointment today to contribute to a good cause and get paid up to $400/month!

May 20, 2021

As a plasma donor at DB Plasma, there are several ways you can go about earning extra money while simultaneously helping to create important life-saving therapies. With our new and improved referral rewards program, in particular, you get the opportunity to earn up to $50 per referral! 

Want to learn more about what this new program entails and how you can participate? Keep reading to find out!

How to Participate in DB Plasma’s New Referral Rewards Program

Referring friends or family members to donate plasma is a simple three-step process that involves the following:

1. Send a text message, WhatsApp message, Facebook message, Instagram DM, or Twitter DM to the person you’re referring.
2. Include your full name in the message.
3. Have the referee show the message to our reception staff after they donate.

We recommend that you review the eligibility requirements for plasma donation to better your chances of successfully referring a donor and receiving your compensation!

How Compensation Works for DB Plasma’s Referral Rewards Program

DB Plasma’ new donor referral program is a tiered system that gives donors the opportunity to up to $50 per referral. Here’s how it works:

For example, if you refer two donors in a month, you will receive $25 for each referral and earn a total of $50 that month. If you refer six donors in a month, you will receive $35 for each referral and earn a total of $210. If you refer seven donors in a month, you will receive $45 for each referral and earn a total of $315. If you refer 10+ donors in a month, you will receive $50 per referral! Please note that referees must complete their plasma donation at some point during the month that they were referred to be counted as a referred donor. 

Reasons to Refer a Friend or Family Member to Donate Plasma

Not only is our referral program a great way to boost your compensation, but it’s also an excellent way to further contribute to the creation of life-saving therapies. Hundreds of donations are needed to create the plasma-derived products that immunocompromised patients rely on. Every year, it takes 130 plasma donations to treat one person with primary immunodeficiency disease and 900 donations to treat one person with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. 

The more plasma donations that are made, the more likely it is that someone living with a rare and chronic condition will receive the treatments they rely on. By referring a friend or family member to donate plasma, you can make a big difference in someone else’s life and get compensated in the process! Every donation helps. 

April 24, 2021

Plasma donation is an incredible act that can change the lives of others for the better. It can also be a great way to make some extra money if you live in a province where paid plasma donations are permitted. 

If you’re thinking about becoming a plasma donor and are wondering what the process will entail, you’re in luck! Here’s the ultimate guide to plasma donation for first-time donors.

What is plasma?

Plasma is a yellowish liquid component of blood that contains vital proteins. It helps to maintain blood pressure and volume, carries electrolytes to our muscles, supports cell function, and supplies critical proteins for blood clotting and immunity. When healthy plasma is donated, it can be used to treat a wide range of autoimmune diseases, immune deficiencies, and blood disorders.

Am I eligible to donate plasma?

In order to donate plasma, you must be in good health and meet certain eligibility requirements. At DB Plasma, donors must meet the following requirements:

• Be between 17 and 68 years of age.
• Weigh between 50 kg to 180 kg.
• Have not had a tattoo or piercing done in the past six months.
• Have not donated blood in the past 56 days.
• Have a permanent address within 100 kilometres of a DB Plasma facility.

At your first appointment, you will be asked to present valid photo identification, proof of address, and a social insurance card. You will also undergo a screening process that involves answering a questionnaire, being interviewed, and having a medical examination and testing performed on two separate occasions within a 26-week period.

What is the process to donate plasma?

If you meet all the eligibility requirements to become a plasma donor, you can then proceed to the donation portion of the plasma donation process. Plasma is collected through a specialized donation procedure known as plasmapheresis. During the plasmapheresis procedure, you will be intravenously connected to a medical device known as an apheresis machine that will separate plasma from whole blood and return the rest of your blood to your body. This portion of the plasma donation process takes approximately 50 minutes to complete.

After you’ve completed your plasma donation, you will be encouraged to rest, relax, and enjoy refreshments in our centre’s waiting room for 10 minutes. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re currently keeping snacks and drinks behind our reception desk, but our reception staff are always more than willing to hand them out when donors ask! During this time, you can also schedule your next appointment.

How long does it take to donate blood plasma?

From start to finish, you can expect the entire plasma donation process, including the registering and screening portions, to take approximately two hours and 30 minutes as a first-time donor. Subsequent donation appointments will be easier and faster. Appointments for repeat donors typically take around one hour and 30 minutes.

Are plasma donations paid or unpaid?

Both paid and unpaid plasma donations exist in Canada. Whether or not you’ll be compensated for your plasma donation depends on where you live and what company you’re making the donation with. 

At DB Plasma, we compensate our donors for the time and effort they put into giving plasma. Donors at our centres in Saskatoon and Moncton have the opportunity to earn up to $400/month for their contributions. We also have monthly prize draws where donors are automatically entered to win $100 gift cards if they give plasma during that month!

Plasma donation is a great way to give back and get some much-needed me-time. As a donor at DB Plasma, you can also supplement your income with the compensation you receive for your donations. If you’d like to become a plasma donor, book an appointment at a centre near you today!