In cities across the United States, from Philadelphia to Phoenix and Oklahoma City, a phenomenon is growing that many residents – including Brazilians who migrated in search of opportunities – never imagined experiencing: families are voluntarily going to blood plasma centers to receive money in exchange for their plasma and help pay bills at the end of the month.
Plasma is the liquid part of blood and contains proteins and antibodies used to make medicines for serious diseases such as hemophilia, burns and immune deficiencies. In the US, unlike many countries, it is legal to receive compensation for donating plasma – and this has become a business that generated around US$4.7 billion last year.
Even with official data showing that some economic indicators are stable, the cost of living remains high: rent, food, health insurance and family care put pressure on the budget. For many Brazilians living in the US – whether as self-employed workers, in service jobs or doing “gig jobs” like Uber and DoorDash – the extra money they receive in exchange for donating plasma has been the difference between paying essential expenses or accumulating debt.
An example that was repeated in several interviews was that of people who earn money to buy food, pay rent or medical expenses, because their main salary is not covering all the bills. At a plasma center in Pennsylvania, a 43-year-old man explained that he uses the money to buy basic household items, in addition to working with deliveries to supplement his income.
For many Brazilians who live outside major economic centers or who have a family in Brazil to support, this extra source of income has become a real resource. The practice is not eliminated from immigrant communities, on the contrary: it has become a topic among groups of Brazilians who share tips on how to supplement their income when formal jobs are not enough.
Some comment that, although it feels strange to exchange part of your own body for money, the need speaks louder when it comes to unexpected bills – such as rent, school fees or even medical emergencies.
On average, a donor can receive between $45 and $65 per visit, with payments typically loaded onto prepaid cards or dedicated accounts. In some promotions and with regular donations, the total can reach around US$300–$400 per month if a person donates plasma twice a week, which is the limit allowed by most centers.
This may not seem like much, but for those living on a tight budget – especially in cities where rent alone exceeds US$1,500 per month – that extra US$300 could mean the difference between paying the bills or delaying essential payments.
Donating plasma is not the same as donating whole blood: the process takes about an hour, removes around 10% of the blood volume and returns the rest to the body. Most people regenerate plasma within hours to days, but some report tiredness, dizziness, or bruising at the puncture site. Experts warn that donating too frequently or without adequate guidance can impact someone who already has anemia or health problems.
The practice has been growing and today around 200,000 people a day go to these centers across the country. For many Brazilians in the USA, donating plasma has become a survival strategy, not just an occasional “side job”. And while the official economy shows positive numbers in some sectors, in real life, millions are looking for any extra income to support their families and remain in the USA.
*This text does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Jovem Pan.
