Can You Donate Plasma With Hiv

Blood Banks Want Broader Donor Pool

Blood banks like OneBlood say they are in a tough spot. They must follow the FDA rule, which is known as its deferral policy. Yet they want the widest pool possible during this pandemic when blood and plasma donations are in low supply and high demand. A single donation can help as many as three different COVID-19 patients with the same or a compatible blood type.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an estimated 130,000 fewer blood donations.

Any time additional people are allowed into the donor pool its a good thing, said Susan Forbes, Florida spokeswoman for OneBlood.

The Red Cross wants to see change, too.

The Red Cross does not believe blood donation eligibility should be determined by methods that are based upon sexual orientation, a spokesperson said.

All donated blood is tested for several types of hepatitis, HIV, syphilis, and other infections. If someones blood tests positive, it will not be given to a patient.

Thats why this just does not make sense, said Carl Schmid, Executive Director, HIV + Hepatitis Policy Institute Washington, DC.

The FDA says its role is to ensure public health, but it would be willing to consider a fix screening blood donors for risk of HIV based on behavior, such as unprotected sex with strangers rather than sexual orientation.

The FDA also is seeking public input on donation-screening strategies.

RELATED: Blood plasma from coronavirus survivors may save severely ill patients »

Is Donating Plasma Painful

Whether the process is painful for you depends on your pain threshold. For some people, donating feels no worse than a pinprick, while others may feel more pain. If the nurse misses the vein or you experience plasma donation side effects, its possible youll experience more pain, but overall, most people report nothing more than mild discomfort.

What Are The Guidelines For A Blood/plasma Donation

Before you decide to donate blood and plasma, there are some considerations to be had. First and most importantly, only apply if you are generally in good health. In most states, the minimum age to donate is 17 years old. However, some states will allow 16-year-olds to donate assuming they have consent from a legal guardian. People donating must also weigh at least 110 pounds.

People are only allowed to donate as often as:

• Blood every 56 days or 8 weeks.
• Platelets every 7 days with a maximum of 24 times a year.
• Plasma every 28 days or 4 weeks with a maximum of 13 days in a year.
• Red blood cells every 112 days or 8 weeks and up to 3 times a year.

Recommended Reading: What Is The Average Life Expectancy Of Hiv Patients

Can Hiv Be Transmitted Through Blood Transfusions

Yes but this is very rare. In the unlikely event that a person who is HIV-positive donates blood products that are not tested, the person who receives the blood product is likely to develop an HIV infection too.

If youre thinking about donating blood but are not sure about your HIV status, you can request an HIV test in advance of donating at your local clinic.

In order to prevent this, international health regulations require all blood products, such as organs or tissues, to be screened for a number of viral or bacterial contaminations before they are used.

During the screening process any blood products which contain HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or syphilis will be disposed of.

This means that the transmission of HIV through blood products is very rare, but examples have occurred in some low-income countries which lack the equipment to test all blood.

Blood Transfusions & Transplants And Hiv

FAST FACTS

• In most places in the world the risk of getting HIV from a blood transfusion is very low.
• International health guidelines state that all blood products must be tested for viruses such as HIV, and in most countries rigorous testing procedures are put in place.
• In rare cases where blood or blood products, such as a donated organ or tissue, have not been tested, HIV may be transmitted if the donation has come from an HIV-positive individual.
• You have the right to ask your healthcare professional if a blood product has been tested for HIV or not.
• You cannot get HIV from donating blood as new, sterile and disposable needles are used.

Also Check: How Long Does It Take For Hiv Symptoms To Develop

What Plasma Is And How It Is Donated

Plasma is the pale-yellow liquid component of blood that normally holds the blood cells in suspension. It makes up about 55% of the total volume of an individual’s blood. Plasma donation is the process of collecting a donor’s blood, separating the plasma portion of the blood from the blood cells, and then returning the blood cells to the donor. This process takes between 1 to 2 hours and is known as plasmapheresis.

Products Made From Plasma

Plasma is the starting material used for the manufacturing of life-saving, commercial drugs known as plasma products.

Commonly used plasma products include:

• albumin, which is used to treat fluid loss in burn or trauma patients
• immune globulins, which are used to treat or prevent infections or immune disorders and
• clotting factors, which are used for the treatment of haemophilia as well as other bleeding disorders.

Also Check: How Does Hiv Make You Feel

Can I Get Hiv From Donating Blood

There is no chance of getting HIV from donating blood. New, disposable and sterile needles will be used to collect your blood.

If you suspect that the needle your healthcare professional is using is not new or sterile then ask them to change the needle and check that it comes out of a sealed pack before agreeing to give blood.

Regular Vs Occasional Cannabis Users

Does all of this information still pertain to chronic weed users? These guidelines for blood and plasma donation do not change regardless of how often a person uses cannabis. Both consistent and occasional users of cannabis can donate blood, as long as they meet all the other qualifications for blood and plasma donation.

While THC does take longer to break down and exit the system of a regular user, it is not possible for a donor-recipient to feel any effects from weed-infused blood. Therefore, the amount of THC in your system is irrelevant.

Recommended Reading: What Does Hiv Stand For

Whats The Difference Between Donating Blood And Plasma

Plasma donation can be done more frequently than whole blood donation because a portion of the blood is returned to the body.

For some people, this makes plasma donation easier and less likely to cause side effects than whole blood donation.

And while there are generally no financial incentives for whole blood donations, private companies often pay donors for plasma donations.

This distinction isnt a hard and fast rule. But paying for whole blood donations isnt the industry standard.

The chart below outlines some of the major differences between whole blood vs. plasma donations.

Do You Have Celiac Disease Donate Plasma And Help Research And Others And Be Compensated Call Today To Learn More

Have you been diagnosed as having Celiac disease? Do you have desire to help others and researchers? We have a plasma donation program designed just for you and we need patients to participate. Plasma is a vital component in the very test kit that were used in aiding your diagnosis. Plasma contains proteins and antibodies and the researchers need those antibodies to create the positive controls to diagnose other patients. Without plasma donors such as yourself these very test kits run a risk of going on back order making a speedy and accurate diagnosis more difficult when physicians or hospitals need the kits to make the diagnosis.

The plasma donation program is called plasmapheresis where your plasma is spun off from the red blood cells and you get your red cells returned to you thru this process. Plasma donation programs are so safe that the FDA allows you to do so more frequently than say a whole blood drive. Plasma is rebuilt within a 24 hour period allowing you to donate twice in a 7 day period, whereas whole blood you can only do so every 56 days/8 weeks because it takes your body this long to recoup/re-build the red cells donated.

Participants who qualify and donate are compensated in the program each time they donate and can earn $300 a visit for donating plasma to help others. All travel related expenses are pre-paid by us to get you to/from a facility nearest you to participate and you still get your full payment at the conclusion of each visit.

Read Also: Is Hiv Easy To Catch

About Blood Donation Rules

While all blood donations are screened for HIV before they enter the blood pool, all laboratory tests have a window period in which very recent HIV infections cannot be detected. For the most sensitive RNA assays used by blood collection agencies, this may be between 10 and 16 days. As a result, a small number of infected samples still make it through. Since men who have sex with men have much higher rates of HIV than the general population, regulators have generally asked MSM not to donate blood. Many gay and bisexual men feel that such restrictions are stigmatising and discriminatory.

In 2015, US policy changed from a lifetime ban on donations from any man who reported having sex with another man after 1977, to a 12-month deferral period. This means that men who last had sex with another man more than a year ago are eligible to donate blood, while men who have had sex more recently are not.

The policy remains controversial, with some advocates arguing that more detailed questions about sexual behaviour could be asked of all donors, that the deferral period is far longer than the window period of any test and that restrictions are counter-productive given the shortage of blood donors.

Who Can And Can Not Donate

The screening process makes sure you are healthy enough to donate and to make sure you have no diseases that can contaminate the blood supply. You will be tested for blood-borne illness to determine if you are a good candidate for donating blood. The screening process will assess the health of your blood. If you are found to be healthy they will begin the extraction process.

Also Check: Who Is Most Likely To Contract Hiv

What Happens If We Find A Problem With Your Blood

If you test positive for any of the diseases named above, you will be notified and your blood will not be used for transfusions. In addition, you may be asked to speak with one of our medical professionals at the blood bank and scheduled for a follow-up visit and further testing. Your consent for re-testing will be requested again at that time.

The names of donors with positive test results are kept in confidential files and will not be released without your written consent unless required by law. We will not notify you if your test results are negative and we do not find any problems or if the blood samples we collected were insufficient to provide enough blood to complete laboratory tests.

If You Have These Conditions You Can Donate:

Hepatitis A: You can give blood plasma if you have hepatitis A. You must have been diagnosed within three months of contracting the disease.

Rubella: If you contract the German measles, you can make a blood plasma donation if it has been within three months of the initial infection. You must test positive for the Rubella antibody. Rubella is transmitted through tiny droplets caused by coughing, sneezing.

HIV: If you have been diagnosed with HIV within 30 days of contracting the disease you can donate plasma.

Syphilis: If were diagnosed within 30 days of contracting the disease you can donate plasma. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease.

Hepatitis B: If you have contracted Hepatitis B and were diagnosed within 30 days of contracting the disease you can donate.

Lyme Disease: You can donate blood if it has been not more that one year of the date you contracting the disease. You must test positive for Lyme disease.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: You can make blood plasma donation if you test positive for the disease. The infection load should be larger than 2000 IU per millimeter of blood.

Human Parvovirus B19: If you tested positive for the HPV antibody within three months of being infected. Infection is transmitted much like a cold through sneezing or coughing and not covering your mouth.

Recommended Reading: What Is The Percentage Of Hiv In America

Concerns Arise Over Blood Donated By People On Antiretrovirals

Whether the donor uses antiretrovirals for HIV treatment or as PrEP, the drugs could mask the presence of the virus in a blood donation.

Given that a small number of people donating blood in the United States are taking antiretrovirals , researchers have expressed concern that such medication use, whether as HIV treatment or pre-exposure prophylaxis , could mask the presence of HIV and allow the virus into the blood supply, Healio reports.

The Food and Drug Administration already bans people living with HIV from donating blood. That said, people who have the virus but do not know it could wind up giving blood, only to be diagnosed through the process. All blood is screened for the presence of HIV before it enters the U.S. blood supply.

The FDA recently reduced from 12 months to three months the deferral period that men must wait to give blood after having had sex with another man. Some blood donation centers may also require that a donor be off PrEP for 30 days before donating.

Research has solidly proved that if people with HIV maintain a fully suppressed viral load thanks to ARV treatment, they cannot transmit the virus sexually.

The investigators also analyzed data on self-reported use of PrEP around the time of giving blood among men who have sex with men from five U.S. cities who participated in the 2017 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National HIV Behavioral Surveillance survey.

To read the Healio article, .

Blood Plasma Donations Help Researchers Find Cures

As a donor, you help medical science, find cures for diseases and receive an income too. If you have been recently diagnosed with cancer, contagious disease or autoimmune disease your plasma can help medical researchers find new cures. If you are well and want to donate plasma for money, contact SeraCare Life Services plasma centers in your area. CSL Plasma collection agency. They offer donor gift-card rewards programs which are redeemable at any time.

Recommended Reading: What Is Hiv Blood Test Called

Some Important Precautions Of Weed Use Before Donating Plasma

You are allowed to donate blood even if you are a cannabis user except you must follow these preliminary mesures:

• Avoid smoking for 24 hours before you donate. This way you should not have any active THC in your plasma.
• Do not ingest any cannabis edibles. Edibles take much longer to exit your system and therefore THC will remain in your plasma for longer.
• If you are high or intoxicated while donating, you could have low blood pressure or hypotension. These sort of conditions will prevent you from being eligible to donate plasma.

What To Eat Before Donating Plasma

Drinking plenty of water and eating a balanced, healthy diet is always a good choice, but its even more important on the days leading up to plasma donation. Make sure to get a good nights sleep before the day of your donation. Drink about 6 to 8 cups of water the day before and day of donating, and eat a protein- and iron-rich meal within 3 hours of donation.

High-protein foods include beans and legumes, beef, chicken, shrimp, cheese, eggs, milk, yogurt , and seeds and nuts. Broccoli, beef, beans, iron-enriched breakfast cereals, chicken, ham, dark leafy greens, raisins, and watermelon are all high in iron.

Avoid fatty foods like French fries and other fried foods, pizza, or sweets the day you donate, and dont drink alcohol the night before. These can affect your blood tests and prevent you from donating.

Recommended Reading: Is Hiv Testing Included In Std Testing

Can You Donate Plasma If You Smoke Weed

It is common knowledge that blood donations can saves lives, but are you allowed to donate it if you use cannabis?

The quick answer is, YES.

Smoking cannabis does not disqualify you from giving blood.

However, the clinic will likely turn you away if you appear visibly high during your appointment.

If You Have Concerns After You Have Donated

If after giving blood, if you become aware of or remember any information about your health that could affect whether we should transfuse your blood, please call the Blood Donor Room at or email .

As of June 1, 2000, Public Health Law requires that a confirmed positive HIV test be confidentially reported to the New York State Department of Health.

You May Like: How Long Does Hiv Last

The Future Of Donations From Gay And Bisexual Men

To donate blood or plasma, a person must fill out a questionnaire to determine eligibility.

Men are asked if theyve had sex with other men in the past three months. If so, theyre ineligible to donate even though donations are tested for a whole host of infectious diseases, including HIV.

It diminishes our lives, it diminishes our sex lives, it diminishes who we are. It is absurd and hurtful, Halkitis said. It is reminiscent to me of when gay men were first getting married, it was, Oh, are you going to have safe sex all the time? Do we say that to straight people?

Theres a different set of rules for gay people and straight people, for Black people and white people, he said. Its a perpetuation of othering that constantly goes on. The bottom line is blood is tested, so what is the problem taking blood from a gay man?

Blood banks also ask people if theyve paid for or been paid for sex in the past three months, and if theyve used needles to inject drugs or steroids not prescribed by a doctor in the past three months. But in general, straight donors are not asked for details about their sex lives. A straight person who engages in unprotected casual sex could be permitted to donate over a gay or bisexual man in a monogomous relationship.

And even if a gay or bi man has been celibate for three months, he can still be prevented from donating if he is taking PrEP, a medication that prevents HIV-negative people from becoming HIV-positive.