Plasma Donation in Fort Collins: Must All the Cons be Cons?
Many college students who have never donated plasma before must wonder about the risks and rewards of the experience. CSL Plasma, the donation center closest to Colorado State, recognizes students as the vast majority of their donor population, which makes sense. Students are broke, and feel invincible. Why not give up some fluids for the extra funds? But anyone, student or not, should be aware of what exactly goes on within these establishments in order to feel comfortable with what is required of them. This review of CSL Plasma will examine complaints and concerns about donation discussed online in comparison with first-hand experience as a donor in town, so that curious people don’t jump to the conclusion that these donation centers are houses of horrors.
There are many legitimate concerns that donors should understand. Continued and frequent donation over time can lead to collapsing veins and scarring, which can make finding one to use for your session (or a medical emergency) more and more difficult. Anticoagulants are used to separate the red blood cells from the plasma, which makes the process easier and faster. But these anticoagulants can lead to a decrease in your body’s calcium levels. This is a simple fix, more calcium, but one that should not be ignored. This along with a potential decrease in the body’s production of antibodies can make frequent donation seem daunting. But not to worry. Center employees are trained to monitor for signs of potential problems, and can deem it necessary to suspend donors from returning for a set amount of time until the problem improves.
One of the largest complaints about donating plasma posted online is that the experience may be “uncomfortable or scary”. There are many potential donors who may be uncomfortable with disclosing personal information to the center. But these establishments are asking for components of your blood. It’s necessary to ask a few questions that would rule out any potential diseases the donor might be carrying. Many on the internet who are against plasma donation argue that this factor in the process gives donors an incentive to lie about their medical or sexual history. But this is what happens in CSL Plasma that should put this issue to rest: Every donor upon entry is required to answer an assortment of these medical questions before each donation. Questions are answered in closed off booths, and no one, including the employees, is allowed to watch you while you do so. Then, directly after, donors are escorted to a booth where a sample of their blood is taken in order to test for various level ranges as well as for disease. If a potential donor is hiding a disease found in the blood, the questionnaire will not stop them, the blood tests will. The donor’s answers to the questionnaire are stored on a private file along with their identification information. Honestly, if you were willing to give CSL Plasma your social security number, home address, and fingerprint (yes, they are that efficient), it shouldn’t be too difficult to disclose a bit of medical information for the sake of being thorough.
Another important con of plasma donation which is due for discussion is the short-term concerns. The internet is riddled with complaints of fatigue, nausea, and fainting after donation. These people are not hydrating. After donating plasma, the body is low on fluids. Of course it is. You’re giving a portion of it away, remember? These issues come from the donor either not coming to the session hydrated and well-fed, or not doing the same thing right afterward. At CSL Plasma, first-time donors are told literally every five minutes the importance of eating and drinking before and after donation. Goody bags are distributed with different flavors of cracker snacks as well as Capri Sun juice boxes so attendants can be sure that the first time is as easy as possible. This issue is also a factor in why donors can’t come back two days in a row. The body needs time and sustenance in order to regain its lost fluids. That’s where you come in. The attendants can’t give you juice and crackers after you’ve left.
One of the more obvious cons that may drive potential donors away is the fear of needles. Yes, donation involves a needle being inserted into your arm for a procedure that lasts between 30 and 90 minutes. But a walk-through of the procedure may put some minds at ease. At CSL Plasma, donors who have filled out all the necessary information are brought onto the main floor, where reclined cushioned seats are waiting next to the machines that extract your plasma. An attendant will accompany you to get you set up, who will talk to you the whole time the needle goes in, and be as clear as possible about what you can do to distract yourself, as well as make the procedure conclude faster. Donors’ chairs are faced toward a large TV where movies are played to occupy their attention. If you don’t like the movie, you’re welcome to text, listen to music, or watch movies on a mobile device, as long as you aren’t disturbing the other donors. When it comes down to it, fear of needles can be cured by a very simple solution: Look away from the needle.
Although it is not entirely without risk, plasma donation centers hold a very strict and safe environment for donors. People shouldn’t be afraid of donating, but rather they should learn to understand that it’s the employees’ top priority that their donors are healthy, comfortable, and satisfied. With the risks laid out, and some laid to rest, it’s up to you to decide whether donating plasma is for you.
Sources
http://www.livestrong.com/article/122888-dangers-donating-blood-plasma/
http://nyln.org/11-meaningful-pros-and-cons-of-donating-plasma
http://healthresearchfunding.org/pros-cons-donating-plasma/
http://www.enkivillage.com/pros-and-cons-of-donating-plasma.html
