Americans Can’t Afford Not to Sell Their Plasma

The plasma industry has boomed with little attention from regulators in Washington.

Lab worker handling bags of human plasma.

Some low-income people have come to rely on plasma centers to make ends meet, and the industry has an inverse relationship with the health of the economy. Shutterstock

A young influencer throws on a moto jacket and a tote bag, getting ready to show off her new “favorite rich girl habit.” B-roll plays of her filling out a questionnaire and having her blood pressure taken, as she explains in a voice-over how viewers can get up to $700 in just one month.

“It’s honestly the perfect way to make a real impact while earning extra money for whatever you need,” she says in her sponsored content post.

The influencer, who did not respond to a request for comment, partnered with BioLife Plasma Services to show part of the “plasma donation process.” People, often cash-strapped, are paid, usually via prepaid debit cards, to sit for an hour or two as a machine harvests a pale, yellow liquid from their blood.