Saving lives is an act that many humans participate in. It can be done in so many ways and in some of the most simplest forms, such as; donating plasma.

Now, some may think that donating plasma is dangerous to the body, more specifically the immune system, but its not. Some also may think that plasma doesn’t really save lives, but it does.

Natalie Hansen, a freshman in Bio-systems engineering as never donated plasma but thinks she may in the future.

“I have heard of people donating plasma, a lot of college kids because you get paid for it. I just never have done it before,” she said.

I myself donate plasma, twice a week no less, and I find it to be a very rewarding experience. The staff on duty are quite friendly and personable; and they all have a mindset that the donor is a high priority.

But before I could even be a candidate to donate my plasma, I had to undergo rigorous testing. A multitude of questions had to be answered and a thorough physical examination completed.

Once all of that was said and done, a plasma technician had to test my blood and plasma to make sure I was capable of giving my plasma away. If I passed all of their tests I was able to participate in the procedure of donating.

The process was a very simple and relaxing one. I sat on a comfortable reclining bed, legs propped up. The plasma technician hooked up tubes to a machine and attached a bag of saline.

The next step was to get me sanitized with an iodine gel at the spot of penetration, then get the needle in my arm.

For first time donors the entire process, rigorous testing included, takes about two hours. For me, being a returning supplier am in and out of the building in 45 minutes.

As a reward for my time, not my plasma, I am compensated with money. For the first time I donate a week I get paid $20. The second time a week I donate varies from month to month.

One important question that may be asked right about now would be, what is plasma and how does it save lives?

According to a BioLife PDF file, plasma is a yellow fluid within whole blood. About 57 percent of whole blood is plasma. Plasma is made up of mostly water and proteins which help the body control bleeding and infection.

The live saving aspect of donating plasma is utilized in five different therapies. According to BioLife: Hemophilia Infusions, Blood Volume Replacement, Immune Support, Pulmonology Deficiency Infusion, Surgical Hemostasis and Tissue sealing are the five therapies that thousands of people benefit from daily.

Saving lives and all is wonderful, but what about you, what about me? Are we safe when it comes to donating? How does donating affect our bodies?

Dr. Robert Nathanson, staff physician at the Thielen Student Health center said he believes that if a person were to donate a reasonable amount of times throughout the year it would be a very safe procedure in terms of risk factors to the donor.

“We have many Iowa State students that do donate and obviously its not the same as donating blood. Its the non-cell component of the blood stream, which is the plasma, which is the protein part, which is used for various things for people,” Dr. Nathanson said.

On a practical basis, would an average person donating plasma be more likely to become ill? Dr. Nathanson said he believes that would be a rare occurrence.

“They might have some decreased antibodies on a transient basis. I would say, like a lot of things it depends on how much you do things,” Dr. Nathanson said.

The BioLife plasma center allows donors to donate a maximum of two times a week, this is to allow the body replenish what was lost in the process.

If a person were to donate twice a week for 52 weeks out of the year, that comes out to be a lot of donating, Dr. Nathanson said.

Moderation is the key when it comes to giving away plasma, Dr. Nathanson said. All in all it’s doing a benefit to society.