For those that are healthy enough to do so, donating plasma can help save lives.
Donating whole blood is the most common practice when people opt to participate in blood drives. Needed just as much for medical purposes is blood plasma. Though roughly the same procedure is used for extracting plasma, only the plasma is extrapolated from the blood while the remaining blood products are returned to the donor. In San Antonio, donating plasma is made an easy process due to multiple locations throughout the city that accept plasma donations.
Instructions
1. Locate a plasma donation center in San Antonio by contacting the San Antonio chapter of the American Red Cross. The American Red Cross in San Antonio utilizes the services of the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center for all blood and plasma donations. The five locations in San Antonio for plasma donation are all operated by the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center. Donations are accepted at the main headquarters of the Blood & Tissue Center, located adjacent to Interstate 10. Additional plasma donation locations are located on First Park Ten Boulevard, Loop 1604 West, Culebra Road, Military Drive, Village Drive and in the Oak Hills Medical Center on Louis Pasteur Drive.
2. Make sure that you meet the minimum health and age requirements to donate plasma in San Antonio. You must weight a minimum of 110 pounds, be at least 17 years of age at the time of donation and be in overall good health. You must be free of diseases and conditions such as AIDS, cancer, asthma and hepatitis. Know that you may donate plasma if you are 16 years of age provided written parental consent is provided.
3. Call the main headquarters of the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center to verify that new donors are being currently accepted. Contact one of the six donation locations in San Antonio and schedule an appointment. Let the agent know if you will be using San Antonio's public transportation, VIA Metropolitan Transit, and ask which stop is closest to the location. Write down the date and time of your appointment.
4. Arrive before your scheduled donation time in order to allow enough time to fill out paperwork. Take a form of identification along that proves you name, address and age. Use your Texas state issued drivers license as a form of identification if available. Know that without identification you will not be allowed to donate plasma. Contact the South Texas Blood & Tissue collection center you will going to before your scheduled appointment. Verify that the identification you have available to bring is acceptable for donor verification.
