While there is no inherent risk of getting coronavirus when you donate blood, donors and staff are required to wear masks or reasonable cloth-based face coverings. Read our COVID-19 FAQs.

Welcome, Donor!

Give Plasma
Help Patients with
Major Blood Loss

Plasma donors help patients experiencing life-threatening blood loss

There are many reasons for massive blood loss, including injuries sustained in serious motor vehicle accidents, moms with childbirth complications and patients with severe burns. A critical blood component, plasma also helps those with clotting disorders and rare blood diseases.

Ready to Schedule Your Plasma Donation?

Schedule your plasma donation online by selecting ‘plasma’ in our online scheduler or by calling us at 877-25-VITAL.

What is plasma?
Plasma is the liquid portion of blood that suspends red blood cells, platelets, and other cells within our bloodstream. This blood component is a pale yellow color containing hundreds of different proteins and critical substances like clotting factors and electrolytes needed for our bodies to function normally.

Plasma is 95% of total blood volume

Plasma contains critical elements to keep us healthy

Blood Type AB donors are the universal plasma donors

You will know that you are helping patients in critical need! Plasma donors donate via apheresis or automated donation (a donation made on specialized, high-tech equipment) where a smaller needle is used, plasma is extracted and the rest of your blood is returned to you. When you give a plasma donation, you can give a larger therapeutic dose to help patients who often need multiple plasma transfusions.

General blood donor eligibility guidelines apply to plasma donors. A Vitalant professional is happy to answer any questions you may have about plasma donation.

Please note: Donors who were previously pregnant are tested for HLA antibodies as the presence of these antibodies could put a patient at risk for Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury (TRALI). As long as no HLA antibodies are present, we happily welcome previously pregnant donors!

The ideal blood types for plasma donations are donors with Blood Types AB+ and AB-. Donors with these blood types are called universal plasma donors because their plasma can go to any patient.

In times of urgent need or when plasma inventories have been depleted, donors with other blood types may be asked to donate plasma to help patients.

Plasma donors can give every 28 days.

Some Vitalant centers have special plasma programs that allow for more frequent donation. Please check with your local Vitalant center to see if these programs are available in your region.

A plasma donation takes approximately an hour and half to two hours including registration, health history interview, mini-physical, plasma collection and post-donation refreshment. Donors can watch a movie on their phone, read a book or do work on their computer or tablet as they donate to transform lives of patients in need.

Plasma donations are accepted at most Vitalant donation centers and select mobile blood drives in specific locations.

Please increase your intake of fluids starting two days before your appointment, refrain from oily/fatty foods 24 hours prior to donation and eat a good meal about an hour before your appointment.

All blood donations at Vitalant are voluntary donations.

"You can help people in so many different situations. It’s a crucial part of saving someone’s life. If it wasn’t for the plasma I was given, I would have died. Blood donors do an amazing thing when you look at what their donations achieve."

— Jessica
survivor of motor vehicle accident