How many people can I save -- the experience of donating plasma

Two years ago, I donated about 500ml of whole blood to the local Red Cross in the United States and learned that my blood type is AB positive, which only accounts for 3% of the resident population in the United States. I was just 18 years old at the time. According to local requirements, I can donate blood only if I am 160cm tall and weigh at least 55kg. At that time, I was only 50kg and was very confident in my body. I lied about my weight to complete the donation, and then rode a bicycle for 20 minutes to go home (don't follow me, everyone has different physique).

Later, when I started to study blood types, I realized that AB positive blood type is the universal recipient of red blood cells (I can accept red blood cells from anyone), because red blood cells contain both A antigen and B antigen, but there is no antibody, and red blood cells of any blood type are not Rejection occurs in my body. Conversely, people of other different blood types, even AB-negative, reject antigens in AB-positive red blood cells. Therefore, my whole blood can only help people of the same blood type, and the demand for AB positive whole blood is not large.

However, I am a universal donor of plasma. AB-positive plasma does not contain any antigens and can be delivered to anyone. The blood that everyone needs is in the 3%, and I happen to be one of them. I thought, why not make a small contribution of your own?

The nearby plasma station is busy, even on weekday mornings. The nurse received me, checked my driver's license (the US driver's license is used as an ID card), social security card, and showed me a 20-minute video about the donation process and risks. Then, I needed to complete a 50-question questionnaire that included surgical history, injury history, sex life, and Covid-19 vaccinations. They also measure my weight (uniform, age 18+, 50kg+), body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, hemoglobin and plasma protein levels, and look at my pierced ears and number of tattoos. Since it was my first time to donate plasma, the nurse thoughtfully gave me a physical examination, mainly auscultation of the heart, liver, spleen and lungs.

After a long wait, I finally lay on the blood donation bed. The process of donating plasma is similar to that of donating whole blood, except that a plasma separator is used when donating plasma. The plasma is separated from red blood cells and white blood cells by the principle of centrifugal force. When the plasma is collected, the remaining red and white blood cells are re-infused back into the body. I weigh 55kg and donate about 700ml. The whole process lasted 1 hour.

The silver needle was inserted into the vein with slight pain. When I saw the tube turned red and touched it, my blood was flowing in it, with a little body temperature. I clenched my fists hard to speed up the collection of blood. The machine turned rapidly, and the bottle was gradually filled with a reddish, translucent liquid. When the straps suddenly loosened, the red blood cells returned to my body mixed with cool saline.

How many people can my plasma save? Quantity may not be too important. But the important thing is that I did a good deed to help someone in need, and that person could be my friend or family member.

The warm blood left me and went to another body fluid; I watched it come back again, with hope and blessing.

I typed this article with one hand while donating blood. I didn't feel any discomfort after it was over, I just had to eat more tonight.

Let's put two pictures, people who are dizzy should look carefully.