There are differences between donating blood and donating plasma.
Plasma donations are down in recent months. Fewer donations now means a possible shortage of plasma products, such as IVIG, within the coming year. Becoming a plasma donor is one way those of us who are not on the front lines of the battle against COVID-19 can bring some good into the world.
But there are significant differences between donating plasma and donating blood. Most significantly, plasma donated at a blood bank or Red Cross facility will not be used to create immune globulin.
Here is an outline of other differences:
What’s the difference between donating blood vs. plasma?
| Plasma | Blood | |
| Allowable frequency | Twice a week with two days in between | Once every 56 days |
| Donations needed to qualify | At least two within a six-month period; prefer regular, ongoing donations | One donation qualifies |
| Time it takes to donate | 1 to 2 hours first donation; less than 1 hour for subsequent | Less than 1 hour |
| Uses | To produce life-saving therapies such as immune globulins, clotting factors, and albumin | Primarily for transfusions in local hospitals |
| Donations needed to produce IVIG | 250 to treat one autoimmune patient for one year | NA – Blood and plasma donations at blood banks and hospitals are not used to make IVIG |
| Where can you donate? | IPPQ-Certified plasma donation center specific to your location https://www.donatingplasma.org/donation/find-a-donor-center | Any AABB-accredited blood donation site https://www.aabb.org/tm/donation/Pages/Blood-Bank-Locator.aspx |
