Is selling blood plasma a scam?

The other day I was donating whole blood at the Red Cross. While laying back in the chair staring at the phlebotomist in awkward silence, I decided to strike up a conversation. I was curious about if the blood given at this particular center is used all over the world. No. It is only used in my state... and we use it all up!
I was really curious about selling plasma. I know a lot of people who do that, and I wondered what the difference is. I recently had a friend tell me that selling plasma is actually MORE helpful than donating whole blood. Is this true?
The phlebotomist told me, definitely NOT! She claimed that the plasma sold could never be used in another human body because sellers who may need money, may be more inclined to lie when giving information about their current health status. In fact, she said that certain companies spend 'big bucks' to buy plasma from these places in order to use them in commercial products. Seriously? She claimed that the plasma is used in a number of beauty and personal care products as well as pet food. What? She did say that some of the plasma could possibly be used for research and/or pharmaceuticals. Have you ever heard of this?
She was obviously anti-plasma sales and pro-whole blood donations or other Red Cross donatables (platelets, red blood cells). She mentioned that if I told anyone who sells plasma about this, they'd argue with me until they were blue in the face... or maybe I'd be blue in the face... I can't remember. But anyway, I think the subject is important. If a person is selling plasma for extra money, great... whatever. BUT, if a person is selling plasma because they think they are saving lives... well then, shouldn't they know the truth?
So the question is, is this woman speaking fact or hearsay? Anybody? I've been trying to find information on the subject, and am not having much luck. Websites for plasma centers call it "lifesaving" or "lifegiving".
The only negatives I found were about the donors themselves and some naughty plasma centers. The FDA regulates these centers and has found some to be out of compliance. Apparently, many people do falsify information when going in to sell plasma. They may claim that they do not do intravenous drugs, or do not have specific diseases, or are not pregnant... when in fact they are lying. Some centers apparently falsify reports - over bleeding patients, fudging the red blood cell counts of donors so that they appear healthier than they are, allowing feverish, intoxicated, underweight, or pregnant women to have their blood drawn.
It is an interesting subject, and I really am interested in more information if anyone could shed some light on the subject.
For me, I'll stick with the Red Cross. But if you are going to sell plasma, with the intent to save a life, maybe we should do a little more research.

By the way, doctors and hospitals can get plasma from the Red Cross whole blood donations.

Save a life: Practically painless

Today I donated blood for the very first time. It was not nearly as scary as I thought it would be. If you have never done it, let me tell you how it went.

1. I made an appointment online.
2. I showed up for my appointment at 9:30. I walked into a blood services building. The donor room was very large and open. From the doorway you could see the receptionist's desk. To the left was a waiting area, directly behind her was the donation area (you can see all of the people donating), and to the right the snack area. After signing in, they gave me a booklet to read about who can and cannot give blood. I sat down and read it. Then I gave it back to the receptionist.
3. Someone in a white coat was watching me to see when I was ready and then took me back to a little room. She asked me for my picture ID, and asked for my SSN, full name, birth date, address, etc. Then she pricked my finger to make sure I had enough... well, I forget what it was... white blood cells, maybe... anyway she put it in a little machine and counted them. She also took my blood pressure, pulse and temp. Then she had me answer some questions on the computer (about my personal habits: sex, diseases, travel, medications, etc.). I notified her when I was done. Then she asked for my name and SSN again. Then she asked me to verify that all of my personal info was correct on her paper. Then, that part was finished and she brought me back out to sit in a chair to wait for a bed to open up. That whole process took about 10 minutes and I waited in the chair for about 2.
4. A woman called me over to a bed. She verified my name and info again. Then she put a blood pressure cuff on me, marked my vein with a marker, washed the area with iodine (you can tell them if you are allergic to it). She had me hold a ball, she poked me, it hurt for a few seconds. I relaxed and was suppose to squeeze the ball gently every 5 seconds. I forgot to do that after a minute. Then 7 minutes and 19 seconds later (apparently, people like to know how long it took them to fill the bag - maybe so they can beat their time next time! - Is that possible?), I was finished. She clamped off the tube, and pulled out the needle (it hurt for 1/2 a second). Then I held gauze to it and held my arm in the air. She wrapped the gauze on with my choice of wrap color (blue), told me what to look for and/or do within the next five hours of the day, and sent me off to the snack area. All during the part where I laid on the bed (which was upright and more like a dentist-type chair), she never left me. She busied herself with things, chatted, and asked me if I was all right.
5. The snack area was a grouping of tables and chairs. there was a counter full of pre-packaged treats: fig newtons, pretzels, trail mix, chocolate chip cookies, Lorna Doone, etc. There was also a fridge full of cans of juice (I had Welch's peach/grape juice) and waters. I sat at a table read over my after-care instruction and ate fig newtons and trail mix and drank my juice. You can have as many treats as you want!
6. That was it! I feel fine, I was never nauseous or dizzy. I can donate again in 56 days.

I donated whole blood. In a month or two I should get a donor card in the mail that has my blood type on it. If I am A or AB (I think those are the two- don't quote me on it) I can give platelets next time. Giving platelets takes much longer (a few hours) and you can do it every 3 days (max: 24 times a year). The platelet donors were set up with movies and headphones.

Saving the world - please, take a minute and read on

I want to do my part where I can, but there is a lot I cannot do. I don't have an inordinate amount of time or money and that is why I am always looking for ways to contribute that are simple and very possible. I just figure that there are people out there who are in my same boat, so I share my finds. I like things like ripple and the breast cancer site, where all you have to do is click and you are giving someone clean water, food, money, education or a mammogram. I like freerice because just by playing a game for a minute or two I can give someone a full tummy to sleep with at night. I try to do my part by recycling, changing out my light bulbs, and by conserving water and electricity because I cannot afford to buy only green and organic products. I have Fischer in disposable diapers, so I have to do my part where I can to even out our impact on the planet.
I joined Team in Training to try to get myself healthier and help others at the same time. There is so much money needed to fund research for blood cancers, I can't give enough money, but I can help fund raise - and then together we can give more. It is incredible to hear that the gains they have made in research have had such an amazing affect on the survival rate for people with these cancers. So many of the people who lost the fight 20 years ago might be here today if we had had that research. I know many grateful people who thank God everyday for the people who have contributed to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It has meant their life or the life of a loved one.

Last night I was reading toddlerplanet, Whymommy is battling Inflammatory Breast Cancer and is hopefully going to be cancer free soon. She has endured months of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, and now radiation. She often posts such honest and informative details about her fight. People periodically ask her what they can do to help a friend who has cancer and she has many ideas. Last night, however, she linked us all over to Kate who has an answer. Give blood. You don't know who you are helping and it may even be yourself, one day, you can do it. After reading her post, I was so ashamed that I have used all of the ridiculous excuses and have NEVER given blood. I immediately clicked over to the Red Cross and made an appointment for next Thursday. If Kate doesn't convince you, maybe the stories about the recipients will. I am going to make giving blood a regular part of my life. How odd that it never occurred to me that donations are the ONLY way people can get the lifesaving blood that they need. There is no substitute, no artificial blood, or pig blood or anything else. At the bottom of the homepage for the Red Cross there is a counter letting you know how many people have needed blood, just since you have been on their site. It took my breath away!
If you are still reading this very long post and you make an appointment to donate blood, let me know. Let's inspire each other. In fact, I will send you a little present after you give. Email me: fisforfischer at gmail dot com anyday anytime as long as this blog shall live and I will thank you for doing your part to inspire me and others to give of ourselves.