Plasma donation is a lifesaving contribution that helps patients battling serious medical conditions.

Healthcare teams use plasma to make life-saving medicines for immune deficiencies, hemophilia, severe burns, and more. These therapies depend on proteins derived from plasma.

Unlike whole-blood donation, plasma donation is a specialized process in which only the plasma is collected, and your red blood cells are returned to you. Because the body replenishes plasma much faster than red blood cells, many people can donate regularly without depleting their resources.

At Olgam Life, Plasma donation is also a way for donors to earn extra income. The process is safe, comfortable, and highly rewarding. We have convenient plasma donation centers across New York (Queens, Brooklyn, The Bronx) and Florida (Ft. Pierce), which makes it easy to become a regular plasma donor and make a meaningful difference in your community.

Why Donate Plasma?

Donating plasma at Olgam Life comes with tangible benefits for both you and the community:

Financial compensation: Donors earn $50-$60 per session in New York and $50-$140 per session in Florida, with regular donors making up to $500-$770 monthly depending on location. You'll receive payment immediately on a prepaid debit card, and you can earn an additional $50 bonus for each successful referral.

Health monitoring: Regular screenings help you stay on top of your wellness. At every visit, you'll have blood pressure, pulse, temperature, protein, and hematocrit level checks. First-time donors also receive free testing for HIV and hepatitis.

Community impact: Your plasma directly helps save lives. It takes 130 plasma donations to treat one person with primary immunodeficiency for an entire year, and plasma therapies are essential for treating bleeding disorders, immune deficiencies, trauma patients, and even pregnant women with a particular condition called Rh sensitization. By choosing to donate plasma, you're directly contributing to medications that simply cannot be synthetically created; they can only come from human donors like you.

Who Can Donate Plasma?

Donating plasma is more accessible than many people realize, though certain health and safety criteria must be met to protect both donors and recipients. If you're between 18 and 64 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and are in generally good health, you're likely eligible to become a plasma donor.

However, to ensure the safety of plasma supply, certain conditions can prevent you from donating. You cannot donate if you have HIV, hepatitis B or C, or other blood-borne infections that could contaminate the plasma. Similarly, individuals with certain chronic illnesses or active cancers may be ineligible. People taking specific medications that affect plasma quality or donor safety are also ineligible.

Some situations create only temporary deferrals rather than permanent disqualification. Recent tattoos or piercings require a waiting period to ensure no infection has developed. Travel to certain areas with endemic diseases may require a deferral until any potential exposure period has passed. Pregnancy also temporarily disqualifies donors due to the physical demands on the body.

Before each donation, every Olgam Life center conducts thorough screenings to identify any risk factors. Staff members are available to discuss your medical history confidentially, determine your eligibility, and answer any questions about how specific conditions might affect your ability to donate.

How to Prepare for Your Plasma Donation

Knowing how to prepare for a plasma donation can significantly improve your experience and ensure a successful session. Proper plasma donation preparation involves a few key steps that help your body handle the process safely and comfortably.

Before Your Donation:

• Hydrate thoroughly: Drink at least 6-8 glasses of water in the 24 hours leading up to your appointment. Proper hydration makes your veins more accessible and helps your body replenish plasma more quickly afterward.

• Eat a balanced meal: Consume a nutritious, protein-rich meal 1-2 hours before donating. You should also avoid fatty foods at this time, as they can affect plasma quality.

• Get adequate rest: Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep the night before to ensure your body is in optimal condition for donation.

• Wear comfortable clothing with sleeves that roll up easily above the elbow

• Bring required documents: Have a valid photo ID, proof of address, and your Social Security card ready for your first visit.

The Donation Process at Olgam Life

Step 1: Initial Screening
You can walk in anytime; no appointment is needed. You'll complete a health questionnaire covering your medical history and undergo a quick physical exam. Medical staff will check your blood pressure, pulse, temperature and test for blood-borne diseases like HIV and hepatitis. They'll also evaluate your protein and hematocrit levels.

Step 2: The Collection
The plasma donation uses an automated process called plasmapheresis. Your blood is drawn, the plasma is separated using specialized equipment, and the remaining components (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets) are returned to your body. The entire process takes 60-90 minutes.

During your donation, Olgam Life centers provide free Wi-Fi to keep you comfortable during the process. Feel free to bring your phone, tablet, and headphones to watch movies, browse, or listen to music while you donate.

Throughout the entire donation, professional staff, including doctors, nurses, and experienced phlebotomists, continuously monitor your comfort and safety, and are ready to answer any questions you may have.

Immediate Aftercare: Rest for a few minutes, eat a light meal or snack, drink plenty of fluids to rehydrate, and avoid strenuous exercise or heavy lifting for the rest of the day.

Most donors feel completely normal and return to their daily activities right away, but if you experience:

• Lightheadedness: Sit down immediately and lower your head

• Bruising at the needle site: Apply ice and elevate your arm

• Any concerning symptoms: Visit the nearest medical center immediately

Join the Olgam Life Community of Lifesavers

Olgam Life has 2 locations in the Bronx, 3 in Brooklyn, 2 in Queens, and 1 in Florida.

Simply walk into any location during operating hours; again, no appointment is necessary. A staff member will guide you through each step of the process. Many donors visit twice weekly, making plasma donation a regular part of their routine while earning a consistent income.

Every donation you make has a real impact. As Dr. J. Allen Meadows, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, puts it: "Plasma, which is one component of blood, is a bit of a miracle cure." When you donate plasma, you're giving patients with Primary Immunodeficiency a chance to ward off infections and live a normal life.

If you want to make a difference while earning extra income, visit your nearest Olgam Life center and start your plasma donation journey today. Your contribution will save lives while supporting your basic financial goals, certainly a win-win for everyone involved.