We recently showed our readers how to make money by donating blood. One of the most popular blood donation facility in the USA that pay cash for blood donations is BioLife Plasma. BioLife Plasma will pay you money for donating plasma twice a week.
In this post we are going to review BioLife and whether you should use this company to get paid to donate blood.
While we suggest that you should try other ways to earn money, some people choose to donate blood to supplement their income. Remember, for those who are in debt, there are several debt solutions available to you.
Table of Contents
Who Are BioLife Plasma Services?
BioLife Plasma Services is a subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and it operates plasma donation centers across the United States. Plasma is the liquid portion of blood that remains after red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and other cellular components are removed.
Plasma contains proteins, antibodies, and other important substances that can be used to manufacture life-saving therapies for patients with various medical conditions.
BioLife Plasma Services collects plasma from voluntary donors through a process called plasmapheresis. During plasmapheresis, whole blood is drawn from the donor, and the plasma is separated from the other components through a centrifuge.
The remaining blood components are returned to the donor’s bloodstream, while the plasma is collected and processed.
Plasma collected at BioLife Plasma Services centers is used to produce a wide range of therapeutics, including immunoglobulins, albumin, clotting factors, and other plasma-derived products.
These products are used to treat patients with immune deficiencies, bleeding disorders, autoimmune diseases, and other medical conditions.
The mission of BioLife is to:
“To provide the highest-quality plasma to meet the expectations of our customers, ensuring the availability of life-saving therapies for patients.”
On their website, there is a section to apply to become a donor and get paid for donating plasma.
Biolife will pay you for plasma and not whole blood.
How Does BioLife Work?
If you have donated plasma at another plasma center such as CSL Plasma or BPL plasma, you will be aware of how paid plasma donations work and the processes involved in getting started. It is best practice to have a healthy diet and avoid fatty foods if you wish to become a regular donor and earn extra cash.
There is a 6 step process to using BioLife for the first time as a new donor.
First step is to sign up. You can do this by registering on the BioLife website, and attending to your local center. You must be at least 18 years old to become a donor. Ensure that you are in good health before considering becoming a donor
You will need the following forms of ID and information when making an application to be a blood donor:
- Photo ID such as Passport or driver’s license
- Social security number
- Border crossing card if not a US citizen
The second step is to so a donation screening to ensure you are able to donate. Here you will answer some personal and health related questions.
This ensures that your donation is safe to others. Biolife offer life saving therapies to those who are critically ill with health problems and burn victims, therefore this pre-screening is critical for the service Biolife provide.
The third phase is to get assessed by a Medical Historian. It is basically a medical exam where they will measure your weight, pulse and blood pressure. You will be asked questions on your medical history on whether you had:
- clotting deficiencies / clotting blood
- issues with red blood cells
- problems with white blood cells
The Fourth step is to meet a phlebotomist and make your first plasma donation.
Blood and other components will be extracted from your body for a donation. You will likely be in a room with other people for around an hour when making your first plasma donation. You will not be able to make a further donation within the next 48 hours. After your first, you will only have to wait 24 hours per donation, but within 7 days.
Step Five is the part where you get your compensation. BioLife pay you via a BioLife Debit Card. As of posting this article, the debit card is a MasterCard. Previously, BioLife paid for donations by cash and other debit card options, but as a former BioLife employee on Reddit revealed, this became a hazard for employees so now payment is done by card.
The final step is to schedule your second donation so that you can donate regularly. You can book your next donations on the BioLife Website.
What disqualifies you from donating plasma?
If you have underlining blood conditions or discrepancies with blood cells and clotting blood you will be unable to make a blood plasma donation.
During the health screening your health history will be checked for underlying conditions.
If you have an illnesses, such as hepatitis and HIV, this will automatically disqualify you from donating.
How Much Does Biolife Pay For Plasma in 2024?
BioLife pay $20 for the first donation and then $30 for the second per rolling week. The pay you receive for a plasma donation depends on the center. Some centers can pay up to $45 per rolling week.
There are some promotions that the company runs where you can get paid extra per plasma donation.
BioLife Coupons
BioLife donors can also benefit from getting coupons for plasma donation. By signing up to the BioLife email newsletter you could receive some extra free coupons.
It is also worth following them on their social media channels to ensure that you do not miss out on bonus coupons that they offer from time to time when you make a plasma donation.
Is there a BioLife Center Near Me?
There are BioLife plasma donation centers in the the following locations in the US where you can make a plasma donation:
- Boise
- Fond Du Lac
- Grandville
- Lima Ohio
- Springfield MO
- Tyler TX
- Ames Iowa
- Ammon Idaho
- Ankeny
- Appleton
- Austin
- Bellingham
- Billings MT
- Bismarck
- BioLife Bloomington
- Cedar Falls
- Cheyenne
- Clarksburg
Plasma donors generally recommend Biolife to donate plasma because it is well known that a local center has a reputation for cleanliness. It is worth getting in contact with your plasma donation centers to check for the latest payment rates to donate plasma.
How Much Compensation Do You Get For Donating Plasma?
Biolife Plasma will pay you $40 for the first two donations for first time donors and may pay you $50 per visit thereafter depending on location. Some donation centers pay $20 for the first donation and $30 for the second and for each rolling week after.
At $100 per week, it certainly makes sense that you would use BioLife over other blood banks for a human plasma donation. You can earn around $400 per month which is a good sum for paying bills. How much you earn per month will vary on where you live and how many weeks are in a month.
compensation rates vary from location because of the demand requirements for plasma in that area. Pay depends on new donors, if its your first visit, you will earn less.
It is worth remembering that blood donations will not make you rich, however they can provide you with a little income to pay your bills. A person that donates plasma regularly will rarely achieve a 5 figure income in a year.
Remember that earning money from plasma donations is taxable income.
Can I Donate to Biolife & CSL Plasma
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations state that you can only donate blood no more than twice per a seven day period. This means that you should not be donating blood more than twice in a week at one or more plasma centers. The golden rule for your own safety is donate twice a week and no more for extra money.
If you are looking for the highest paying plasma center Biolife and CSL Plasma offer donors more money per month than other companies. The payments are different depending on the location as high demand leads to pay fluctuations. You can visit your local plasma donation centers for latest updates on how much Biolife pays and what CSL Plasma offer returning donors.
It is important to note that there are other ways to earn money rather than trying to donate plasma for cash. You can find lots of other ways to save money too. There are ethical concerns around earning money from plasma donations, however, what you do with your body is up to you.
Contact your local plasma donation center for more information on any concerns that you have. That way, you can make a more informed decision on paid plasma donations. Regular donors in the US donate plasma to earn money to supplement their income.
Check out our other reviews of products and services that make you money on the Moneyjojo reviews page.
