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History

Dr. José Antonio Grifols Lucas, a scientist from Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain, founded Laboratorios Grifols in 1940. Dr. Grifols pioneered a first-of-its-kind technique called plasmapheresis, where a donor's red blood cells would be returned to the donor's body almost immediately after the separation of the blood plasma. This technique is still in practice today, almost 80 years later. In 1945, Dr. Grifols opened the world's first plasma donation center. Thirteen years after the center's opening, Dr. Grifols unexpectedly passed away at the young age of 41 due to leukemia.

Plasma donation

Donating plasma for the first time may be intimidating for any new donors because plasmapheresis is still not a well-known process despite its long history. Although the specifics of this process may vary by country and state, here is what you can expect from your first plasma donation in the United States:


 * 1) Basic Requirements: Donors must be over the age of 18 and weigh at least 110 pounds.
 * 2) Check-in: Three sources of identification are needed to become a plasma donor. First, you'll need to bring your Social Security or immigration card. Second, a valid photo ID, like a drivers license, and lastly, proof of your current address, like a W-2, a current lease, or also your drivers license.
 * 3) Screening: To ensure that a plasma donation is safe for you and whoever will receive the plasma transfusion in the future, donors will complete health questionnaire, will meet with one of the center's medical staff for a physical, and will have their vitals taken (i.e. weight, blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and a blood sample from a finger stick).
 * 4) Donate: A trained phlebotomist will identify a suitable vein in the cubital fossa (elbow pit) area of your arm. The phlebotomist will prepare and clean the venipuncture site (where the needle will be inserted into your vein) with alcohol or iodine. Once the needle is in place, it will be secured and plasmapheresis will begin. Plasmapheresis, in simplest terms, consists of a high-tech machine pulling a small amount of blood from your body, spinning it in a centrifuge to separate the blood plasma from the red blood cells, and then returning the red blood cells back to you before starting to pull another small amount. This pulling and returning process will be repeated until enough plasma has been collected. (Plasma volume varies per donor, depending on weight. A plasma donation is estimated to take 60-90 minutes.
 * 5) Compensation: Each individual center and company has its own compensation scale and promotions. However, compensation is usually in the form of cash being added to a plasma-specific debit card and it is reported that new donors can earn up to $400 a month. Donors may donate twice in every 7-day period.