Is the a phlebotomist in the house?

[Shy Tall Guy]

Does anybody know, with any authority, how often someone can donate plasma? I have heard everything from every other day to every 60 days just like whole blood.

 

[Aphrodisiac]

Generally every eight weeks (56 days) if you are donating whole blood. If you are donating other blood components, such as platelets or plasma, you may donate more frequently depending on local blood collection center guidelines.

 

[Soblue]

According to the Red Cross:

How Often Can I Donate Plasma?
Because plasma is quickly replenished by your body, you can donate plasma as frequently as every 48 hours, but no more than 12 times a year. Additional restrictions vary, however, depending on the center, type of procedure used, and your donation history.

Red Cross

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

According to the Red Cross:

How Often Can I Donate Plasma?
Because plasma is quickly replenished by your body, you can donate plasma as frequently as every 48 hours, but no more than 12 times a year.

Why no more than 12 times a year?

 

[Weird Harold]

Why no more than 12 times a year?

Potential over-stimulation of the blood plasma manufacturing process?

I imagine that the body would adapt to producing an extra pint of plasma and mess up your blood chemistry if you forced it to work overtime too often, but that's just a WAG.

 

[Todd-'o'-Vision]

oops, I guess I screwed myself badly then

I gave three times today, once during every crew shift at the blood drive today.

Well I haven't given since May so I felt I had to make up for lost time

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

http://www.arcbs.redcross.org.au/DisplayFAQs.asp?NavigationID=22&ParentID=-1 :

"You can donate whole blood every 12 weeks and plasma every 2 weeks."

http://www.saintjosephdenver.org/about/volunteer/apheresis/ :

"You can donate as often as every 28 days"

http://www.cap.org/html/public/blooddonation_info.html :

"Plasma can be donated as frequently as every 48 hours, but not more than twice in seven days."

http://www.carterbloodcare.org/Constant/faq.asp :

"red cell plasma donations can be made every eight to 16 weeks"

I understand that there are 4 different components to blood, and that platelets and plasma can be given more often than whole blood, but come on, no one seems to agree on how often plasma can be donated!

 

[weed]

Two months is average.

Replace your fluids (drink a bunch - no, not alcohol, if that's what you're thinking)...have a steak and some orange juice and go to bed.

 

[Weird Harold]

[I understand that there are 4 different components to blood, and that platelets and plasma can be given more often than whole blood, but come on, no one seems to agree on how often plasma can be donated!

Different Jurisdictions and differing degrees of legal paranoia on the part of organization attorneys.

The only rules that really matter are those in force where you donate.

 

[Cheyenne]

The only rules that really matter are those in force where you donate.

Exactly. I think it is every 4 weeks where I live for plasma, but I give whole blood and that is every 8 weeks.