Ways to donate
There's more than one way to give. Each type helps different patients and has its own time commitment and schedule. Here's how they compare.
Whole blood
The most common way to give. About a pint is collected and separated into red cells, plasma, and platelets, so one donation can help up to three patients.
- Time
- About 1 hour (10 min in the chair)
- How often
- Every 56 days (up to 6×/year)
- Helps
- Trauma, surgery, childbirth, anemia, and sickle cell patients.
Power Red (Double Red Cells)
An automated donation that collects two units of red cells while returning your plasma and platelets. Ideal for type O and Rh-negative donors, whose red cells are in highest demand.
- Time
- About 1.5 hours
- How often
- Every 112 days (up to 3×/year)
- Helps
- Trauma victims, newborns, and sickle cell patients who need red cells.
Platelets
A machine collects just platelets, the cells that help blood clot, and returns the rest. Platelets last only about 5 days, so centers need them constantly.
- Time
- About 2–3 hours
- How often
- Every 7 days (up to 24×/year)
- Helps
- Cancer patients, transplant and surgery patients, and trauma victims.
Plasma
The liquid part of blood. AB donors are universal plasma donors. Volunteer blood centers collect plasma for hospitals; commercial centers pay donors for source plasma used to make medicines.
- Time
- About 1–1.5 hours
- How often
- Volunteer: every 28 days · Commercial: up to 2×/week
- Helps
- Burn and trauma patients, and people with immune disorders and clotting conditions.
Cord blood
Blood remaining in the umbilical cord and placenta after a baby is born, rich in blood-forming stem cells. Donated (or privately banked) at delivery — not a scheduled donation.
- Time
- Collected at birth
- How often
- One-time, at delivery
- Helps
- Patients needing stem-cell transplants for leukemia and other blood disorders.
At a glance
| Donation | Time | Frequency | Paid? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole blood | About 1 hour (10 min in the chair) | Every 56 days (up to 6×/year) | No (volunteer) |
| Power Red (Double Red Cells) | About 1.5 hours | Every 112 days (up to 3×/year) | No (volunteer) |
| Platelets | About 2–3 hours | Every 7 days (up to 24×/year) | No (volunteer) |
| Plasma | About 1–1.5 hours | Volunteer: every 28 days · Commercial: up to 2×/week | Volunteer: no · Commercial: yes |
💵 Getting paid to donate plasma
Commercial plasma centers compensate donors, commonly about $40–$100 per visit, often with larger bonuses in your first month. Pay depends on the location, current promotions, your weight, and how often you donate. The plasma you give is made into medicines for immune disorders, hemophilia, and other conditions.
Always confirm current rates and donor requirements directly with the center.
Questions
- What's the difference between donating blood and donating plasma?
- Whole blood donation collects all components and takes about an hour; you can give every 56 days. Plasma donation uses a machine to collect just the liquid plasma and return your cells, taking a bit longer but allowing more frequent donation. Volunteer centers collect plasma for hospitals, while commercial plasma centers pay donors.
- Can you get paid to donate plasma?
- Yes. Commercial plasma centers (such as CSL Plasma, Grifols/Biomat, BioLife, and Octapharma) compensate donors, commonly about $40–$100 per visit with higher new-donor bonuses. Volunteer blood centers do not pay for donations.
Sources & method
The donation guidance on this page reflects published criteria from these organizations. Eligibility and procedures vary by center and country, so confirm specifics with your donation center.
- American Red Cross
- AABB (Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies)
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration — Blood Donation
- Canadian Blood Services
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