Blood has become big business in the United States and there is no shortage of corporations ready to exploit America’s most vulnerable populations in order to get a piece of the pie.
For much of the world, donating blood is purely an act of solidarity; a civic duty that the healthy perform to aid others in need. The idea of being paid for such an action would be considered bizarre. But in the United States, it is big business. Indeed, in today’s wretched economy, where around 130 million Americans admit an inability to pay for basic needs like food, housing or healthcare, buying and selling blood is of the few booming industries America has left.
The number of collection centers in the United States has more than doubled since 2005 and blood now makes up well over 2 percent of total U.S. exports by value. To put that in perspective, Americans’ blood is now worth more than all exported corn or soy products that cover vast areas of the country’s heartland. The U.S. supplies fully 70 percent of the world’s plasma, mainly because most other countries have banned the practice on ethical and medical grounds. Exports increased by over 13 percent, to $28.6 billion, between 2016 and 2017, and the plasma market is projected to “grow radiantly,” according to one industry report. The majority goes to wealthy European countries; Germany, for example, buys 15 percent of all U.S. blood exports. China and Japan are also key customers.
I've got a fun story about this practice. I've actually done this through a company named Biotech. And, hey! Surprise! I sold my blood and plasma when I was hurting for cash!!
Here's how it works. They usually offer an amount that is incredibly tempting to someone who needs money fast for the first time. [Usually $50-$60 for the first 4-5 draws] enough to make it worth your while, the pain, trouble of getting there, eating properly and making sure you're hydrated, not to mention the 45 min to hour it takes while there. That is to get you in the door.
They come off as a legit medical center type environment, replete with lab coats, procedures, protocols, the whole enchilada. So a sense of safety is instilled by the appearance.
But, first thing, there is usually a long line of people waiting to "donate". People from all walks of life, but mostly people on the lower end of the economic scale. In pajamas, with blankets, it honestly looks like a line of people waiting to get into a homeless shelter. That was my very first thought.
After you get through the "introductory rate offer" though, the reimbursement drops to $25 per visit. You can only donate 3x per week, since you need to rebuild platelets. And, if there is any type of injury to the arm you use for donations, they will turn you away.
And here is how I know about THAT.
I was going in under the new rate offer. Getting $50 every visit. Nearing the end, had another 2 visits left. Went in, they did their thing, took me in back. A young lady (I will NOT call her a phlebotomist, to be explained) set me up. I asked her to use the opposite arm since the one with the good veins was getting sore from being jabbed. She looked uncertain, but agreed. She tied off my arm, cleaned the area, worked to produce a good vein, then inserted the needle and stuck it THROUGH my vein. Incredibly uncomfortable. I asked her to take it out. She claimed it was fine. I told her, "NO. IT IS NOT FINE, YOU DID NOT HIT THE VEIN." she went to get a manager (mind you, the GD needle is STILL in my arm) the manager looks at it, pokes it (more painful) then they finally take it out. "Do you want to use the other arm today?" OH HELL NO I DON'T WANT TI USE THE OTHER ARM! NOT NOW! NOT AFTER THIS GIRL HAS ALREADY DAMAGED THIS ONE!! They put some cotton on it, tell me to apply pressure, it's bleeding pretty good. They walk away, come back, "Well, since you didn't actually donate, we're going to give you $25 for your trouble. "
😑😐😑🤔🤨🤔 Ok.
I come back the next day. I'm trying to get my $50 before the deadline.
They go through their protocols, check my pulse rate, stick my finger, weigh me, check my arms.... "oh honey, we can't draw any blood from YOU until this embolism heals!" The embolism caused by their tech sticking a needle through my vein. The embolism that was now making me look like an entry level junkie without skills. The embolism that would cost me the rest of my $100 since it literally took longer than a month to heal, past the final date for donations.
I didn't go back for a long time. More than a year. It made me feel icky. Like I was prostituting myself. I know what a pint of platelets cost. And I know how they were pimping the people coming in there. And I knew my situation so it really pissed me off. But one day last winter, I was hurting for cash, again. Had some bills that needed paid. Got another "we'll give you $300 for donating" email, so I went back.
I told them I did not want that tech sticking me again. "Oh, no problem, we'll give you so and so, she's really good" and as I'm being led back, little girl is telling me how great it is that they do all of their traing in house 😳😬😳 Me. "So, you're telling me that your techs aren't actually phlebotomists?" LG: "Well, we're all trained to draw blood, which IS phlebotomy...." Me: "How long is your training program?" LG: "well we're in class for one week then they put us on the floor with a trainer for...." 😳😬😳😬😳 I honestly did not hear the rest of what she was saying. I dismissed her, told her I changed my mind and got the hell out of there. Never been back.
So not only are the pimping the donors, they're flying under the radar, pimping the phlebotomy field, you have to KNOW they're paying WAY UNDER the going rate for state certified, PROPERLY TRAINED techs, and pulling in money hand over fist on this commodity. And as far as I'm concerned, the value of my body parts is worth far more than some cheap pittance that want to throw my way. I have absolutely no respect for this industry. It is pimping the poor for big profit.
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