Carisa Barker, a 20-year-old American college student, donates her plasma twice a week.
We know that plasma is the yellowish liquid part of the blood, corresponding to 55% of the total volume. In it, proteins, mineral salts, carbonic gas and other substances are dissolved in water.
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Blood material is useful in a large number of therapies for people with rare and serious diseases such as immunodeficiency disorders, hemophilia and hereditary angioedema.
Although it seems like an act of solidarity, the young woman uses this practice to earn money. Money that she uses to support her shopping addiction. Carisa has been doing this twice a week for about a year to earn extra money and support her consumerism.
Although blood donors do not receive cash in exchange for donations, plasma collection centers in the US offer payment in exchange for plasma.
The young woman earns about R$ 1,079.43 per month just with the donation of her blood plasma. In about a year, Barker has raised approximately R$12,860.
The girl resides in Salt Lake City/Utah and, currently, Barker, is studying Communications in college while working as a part-time nanny. She considers herself a “shopping addict” and says she goes to the mall at least three times a week.
“As far as I know there are no risks to my health and my parents are okay with what I do. My plasma is used to make medicine for people with rare diseases,” explains Barker. “I feel good knowing that I am helping other people. I don't intend to stop,” says the young woman.
In addition, the girl says that she is far from stopping the practice. “My friends told me to stop shopping, but I can't. I live at home and all my money goes towards that, ”she tells.
“I would save a lot of money if I stopped. But as long as I have money to spend, I'll keep doing it. I feel powerful knowing that I have money and can buy things.”
The plasma extraction procedure takes place through an electronic device that separates the red blood cells from the plasma. In this way, doctors put the blood back into the person's body.
What happens is that during the donation process, called plasmapheresis, blood is removed from the body. Barker's procedure, so that the plasma is collected and the remaining blood components are then returned.
“As long as I eat a lot of protein, I feel good,” he explains. The procedure takes an average of an hour and a half to be performed by BioLife Plasma Services in Layton/Utah
In Brazil, the reality is totally different. The Federal Constitution makes it very clear in its article 199, paragraph 4, that the collection, processing and transfusion of blood and its derivatives cannot undergo any type of commercialization.