Your first plasma donation: what to expect

Two days before

Drink more water than usual and eat iron-rich food. Low iron is a leading cause of being turned away on the day.

The day itself

Eat a proper meal within two or three hours of your appointment — protein and complex carbohydrates, not just coffee. Avoid alcohol for 24 hours and fatty food on the day, since fat in the blood can make plasma cloudy and unusable.

In the chair

A needle is placed in one arm. Blood is drawn, the plasma separated by a machine, and the red cells returned to you along with some saline. The returned fluid feels cool. Expect 45 to 90 minutes.

How it feels

Most people feel nothing beyond the initial needle. A tingling around the mouth or fingers can happen from the anticoagulant and is worth mentioning to staff immediately — it is easily managed.

Afterwards

Keep the bandage on for a few hours, drink water, eat something, and skip heavy lifting or intense exercise that day. Feeling lightheaded is common on a first visit and passes quickly.

Getting paid

Payment usually lands on a prepaid debit card within minutes to a few hours of finishing.