Catherine Rolfes, 27, was between jobs and looking for ways to cover her bills when her sibling suggested visiting a plasma donation center near Columbus, Ohio. She had never donated plasma before and recalled previous negative reactions to blood donations in high school. Still, the promise of $125 per donation persuaded her to give it a try.
“I felt like I was seconds away from passing out the first time,” Rolfes said, describing a drop in blood pressure due to not eating or drinking enough beforehand. After a brief pause and some care from staff, she completed her first donation and left with $125, which she used for gas and groceries. She returned later that month, prepared and hydrated, and the process went smoothly.
In the U.S., plasma donors can receive financial compensation, a practice allowed in only a few countries worldwide. Donors are paid $30 to over $100 per visit and can donate up to twice a week. This system has made the U.S. self-sufficient in plasma supply, contributing nearly 70% of the global total. Plasma is used to produce life-saving therapies for patients with conditions such as Common Variable Immune Deficiency (CVID), hemophilia, and other immune and blood disorders.
Kelli Fairfax, 55, relies on weekly immunoglobulin therapy derived from plasma. Diagnosed with CVID in 2001, she credits donors with saving her life. “We call it liquid gold,” she said. “You’ve given us our life.” Similarly, Jana Mattheu’s son depends on plasma-derived treatments, which she describes as “as important as oxygen.”
Bethany Beinlich, 22, also donates plasma in Austin, Texas, seeing both financial and personal rewards. “It’s rewarding knowing patients could be helped by it,” she said, highlighting the dual benefit of earning extra income while supporting medical treatments.
The practice of paying donors has sparked ethical debate. Critics argue it may exploit financially vulnerable people, while experts note that compensation is crucial to maintaining a stable plasma supply. Studies show many donors are under 35, often from lower-income households, and rely on donations to cover essential expenses. Research also indicates plasma donation can reduce reliance on high-cost payday loans.
“The most important moral issue is are we collecting enough to meet the needs of patients,” said Peter Jaworski, a Georgetown University professor who has studied plasma ethics and economics. Plasma donation in the U.S. allows millions of patients to access therapies that are otherwise unavailable.
Despite the debates, donors continue to step forward. For Rolfes, Beinlich, and others, plasma donation offers a way to earn extra income and directly impact patients’ lives. “It’s a good little extra money, and for a good cause too,” Rolfes said.