What Happens When You Donate Plasma in Lubbock?

Donating blood or plasma is one of the greatest gifts you can ever give someone, as it may mean the difference between life or death. Luckily for Lubbockites, there are multiple opportunities throughout the city to do just that!

This begs the question, however, of what actually happens to your life juices when they're sucked out of you through a needle? Well, let's take a look at the process.

Where to Donate Blood and Plasma in Lubbock

First off, did you know that there are at least seven locations in Lubbock that take blood and plasma donations?

• BioLife Plasma Services: 5047 Indiana Ave, Lubbock, TX 79413
• Octapharma Plasma: 7006 University Ave Units 13-16, Lubbock, TX 79413
• CSL Plasma: 4841 50th St, Lubbock, TX 79414
• KEDPLASMA Lubbock: 2217 34th St, Lubbock, TX 79411
• KEDPLASMA Lubbock: 2415A Main St, Lubbock, TX 79401
• Vitalant Blood Donation- Lubbock: 2523 48th St, Lubbock, TX 79413
• American Red Cross Lubbock: 2201 19th St, Lubbock, TX 79411

Check out this interactive map of where these convenient locations can be found in Lubbock:

What Happens To Your Plasma After Donation?

Plasma is actually the liquid portion of your blood. In fact, according to the Red Cross, 55% of our blood is plasma. By maintaining blood pressure and supplying our body with the necessary proteins, electrolytes and pH balance, plasma is at the very core of how our body operates.

You can see all of the components in blood on the Red Cross website, if you're into that.

When you donate plasma, a small tube will be connected to your arm, similar to when you donate blood, but with a twist. The machine that the tube feeds to will take your blood, separate it from the plasma, and return the de-plasmafied blood back into your body.

Because the returned blood is lacking the plasma, a saline solution (sterile salt water) is added in. This is why you may feel a chill when donating plasma, since the saline will briefly lower your body temperature as it gets pumped into your vein.

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Plasma that's been donated can sit frozen for up to one year as it waits for transfusions to a patient who needs it.

Finally, it's recommended that people with type AB blood heavily consider donating plasma, as this is the only universal plasma that can be given to patients of any blood type.