I am writing to you in strong disagreement with the article “Selling Plasma; It’s not just for bums anymore” in your March 1 edition. Peter Borchers illustrates different ways for college students “to earn a few extra bucks.”

One of these ways is selling your plasma, but he does not recommend doing so because he fears harmful effects of missing out on a vital fluid.

He compares giving plasma to donating paired organs while still alive. This comparison seems ridiculous because there is a major difference between the two.

An organ cannot rebuild itself. Blood plasma does rebuild within 10 hours, so one is not missing out on a vital body fluid.

Plasma is the liquid component of blood, which is replaced immediately with saline in the donating process.

Known side effects like drowsiness and dizziness from giving blood do not occur when giving plasma.

This is because no red blood cells are removed, and no oxygen deficiency occurs.

Borchers also asks in his article why plasma is such a highly regarded fluid. The answer is that several forms of accidents, especially burns, lead to loss of body fluids and the availability of donated plasma can be the difference between life and death.

Donating plasma cannot only improve one’s financial situation, but it is also a means to help others possibly save lives.

So giving plasma is not a threat to a person’s health but rather a satisfactory means to earn money.

I certainly consider giving plasma a valuable way to earn “a few extra bucks.”

Debi Basu

Junior

Biology