The Price of Plasma

Each year, about 13.6 million units of whole blood are donated in the U.S. Another 53.5 million units are collected in the form of plasma — a liquid element in human blood containing vital antibodies and proteins. Through some privately owned manufacturers, American donors provide 94% of the plasma used around the world. The reason is simple: unlike whole blood donors, the majority of plasma donors in the US receive compensation. For a growing low-income population, giving plasma is more than a good deed to save lives. It has become an economic coping strategy. Ms. Analidis Ochoa, a doctoral candidate from the University of Michigan is with us today to share her findings about the industry, its regulations, and its potential impacts on the vulnerable and under-represented community in the US.