> > As for why they pay for whole blood donations and not for plasma-only donations, I can think of a couple of reasons:
>
> [sniperoony]
>
> I think you misunderstood me. They pay for plasma donations, and NOT for whole blood donations. I think they'll pay you $20 every time you come in, and you can go in something like once a week. So the "professional plasma donor" can make something like $80 a month.
>
> Personally, I think we should be paid *anytime* someone sticks us with a needle. It hurts!
>
> Gri"you wanna blood sample? Okay, but it's gonna cost ya"shny

One of my old roommates used to donate platelets every couple of months. Being the non-science person that I am, I'm not sure if that's the same thing as a plasma donation. I don't remember hearing that she got paid for it, but she might have. I do know that she was occasionally rejected because her iron count was too low.

I've never given blood for several reasons:

a) I think I would pass out, and I don't like doing that. I got a shot in high school, and it was no big deal. It hardly hurt, and then they had me sit there for about 10 minutes to make sure I was okay. I got up, walked out into the crowded hallway, and suddenly could not see anything. I vaguely remember willing myself to not fall over, and I somehow made it to my locker. I don't know what happened after that. Similarly, I regularly get a head rush when I stand up after sitting for awhile, and I can't imagine what would happen if I did that after they had just sucked a pint of blood out of me. (Sean learned a long time ago to be ready to catch me when I stand up after watching a movie in the theatre.)

b) I don't think my iron count is anywhere near the right level. I slacked off on vitamins a long time ago, and I don't eat very well.

c) I almost did give blood one time because they were giving out free oil changes to donors, but my mom freaked me out by telling me that she couldn't watch while my blood oozed into a clear bag next to me. Ewwww!!! No thanks.

Ell"I like the new way of previewing the messages--when I remember it's there!"myruh