As most of us have experienced, when you come to college you either run short on money or don’t have any at all.

Plasma donation is a great way to make a little bit of extra money while helping out others in the process.

Sophomore Ben Ramsay said that from his experience, most people donate plasma because it is an easy way to make money. Plus, it doesn’t really hurt you and your body remakes it, he said.

You may be wondering just how much money you will make from doing this. Sophomore Matt Edwards regularly goes to a clinic in Des Moines to donate.

“If I go once a week then I get $20,” Edwards said. “You can only go twice a week. If I have time I go both times.”

“I can go twice a week without endangering myself. I donate in Ames where I can make $50 per week,” Ramsay said.

Students use the money for a variety of reasons, but primarily for spending money. “I use it mostly for weekend money, but usually just odds and ends sort of things,” Edwards said.

While money is a plus, there are also medical reasons to donate.

The Aventis Bio-Services Web site explains plasma as the liquid part of your blood that is used for different purposes than blood is used. For example, plasma is used for treating hemophilia, immune deficiencies and severe burns, among other things, according to Aventis.

Student donors are informed about the medical need for plasma donation at the clinics.

“It’s beneficial to make blood products off of [your donation]. You know that what you’re doing isn’t being wasted,” Ramsay said.

A major reason for the shortage of plasma is that it cannot be produced synthetically. Also, a large amount of it is needed for treatment purposes.

According to the Aventis Web site, it takes 60,000 donations just to have one lot of plasma therapy to treat one person with hemophilia.

Before you run off to donate plasma you should know some of the requirements.

Donators must weigh over 110 pounds and have a driver’s license in hand when they show up. But, if you’ve recently had the flu or a sore throat, then you won’t be able to donate, according to the Aventis Web site.

“I’ve only been once because if you are sick then you can’t donate,” sophomore Laina Toliver said.

But, Toliver does plan on donating more in the future because she recognizes the benefits associated with it.

“I’m giving something that’s helpful to others. You can also go whenever you have time, it’s not like a regularly scheduled job,” Toliver said.

If you want to try donating plasma, the nearest location is Aventis Bio Services at 1223 6th Ave. in Des Moines.