TEXARKANA, Texas - BPL Plasma Center Texarkana still takes donors, even with the state of current events. However, donors, when they arrive, are subject to a regimen to make sure both donors and staff conduct things safely.
"As donors arrive, they are immediately checked for their temperature," said Jeannie Hinton, center manager. "Social distancing begins immediately when they enter the center; pens are not shared and masks are worn. In addition, the center is even more mindful of keeping a healthy environment, with ramped-up infection control procedures, wiping surfaces and the like."
BPL collects plasma for their clients, usually pharmacies that need it for medicinal purposes.
"Plasma is the liquid part of blood," Hinton said. "We keep that and the other components are returned to the donor, along with a saline solution to replace the extracted fluid."
The center, which was previously located on Arkansas Boulevard, opened its doors on Robison Road in 2018. Before the shutdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the center saw 70-80 donors a day. More recently, that has dropped to 35-50.
"People are still cautiously coming out of their homes on the other side of the shutdown," she said. "But things are slowly picking up."
When a donor comes to the center, these steps are followed.
- Immediate temperature check
- Answers to medical questions
- Checks of blood pressure as well as iron and protein levels
- Proceeding to the donor floor to begin extraction process; takes on average 45 minutes to an hour and 15 minutes.
"Donors can donate twice in a seven day period," she said. "Donating the maximum in a month can get a donor up to as much as $300. Monthly bonuses are also offered."
All donors must be 18-65 years of age, weigh at least 11o pounds and live in the service radius of the center. They must bring ID or other proof of residency.
(BPL Plasma Texarkana is located at 1801 N. Robison Road.)