Plasma Donation Eligibility for an 18-Year-Old, 110-Pound Individual
This individual does NOT meet eligibility criteria for plasma donation due to insufficient body weight, which poses significant safety risks including hypovolemia and hemodynamic instability.
Critical Weight Requirement
The minimum weight requirement for plasma donation is typically 110 pounds, but this represents an absolute floor that requires additional assessment. 1 At exactly 110 pounds, this individual sits at the borderline threshold where many donation centers would defer donation, particularly for plasma which involves larger volume collection than whole blood donation. The concern centers on maintaining adequate circulating blood volume and preventing donor complications.
Positive Eligibility Factors
Despite the weight concern, this individual meets several important baseline criteria:
Age Requirement
- At 18 years old, this person meets the minimum age requirement for plasma donation 1
Infectious Disease Screening
- No history of HIV infection eliminates an absolute contraindication to plasma donation 1
- No history of hepatitis (assuming no active hepatitis B or C infection) satisfies infectious disease screening requirements 1
- All potential donors must still undergo mandatory screening for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C at the time of donation 1
Medication Status
- Not taking anticoagulants like warfarin is favorable, as these medications require deferral periods calculated as t(max) + 5 half-lives for plasma-containing products 2
- Not taking immunosuppressants eliminates concerns about drug transfer to recipients and underlying conditions that might contraindicate donation 1
Additional Screening Requirements
Before clearance, the following must be verified:
Cardiovascular Assessment
- Blood pressure must be documented as systolic <140 mmHg and diastolic <90 mmHg on at least two measurements 1
- No significant atherosclerotic disease or fibromuscular dysplasia 1
Behavioral Risk Assessment
- Must not meet any CDC behavioral exclusionary criteria including: men who have had sex with men in preceding 5 years, nonmedical injection drug use in preceding 5 years, sex work in preceding 5 years, or sexual contact with high-risk individuals in preceding 12 months [@2-7@]
- Not currently incarcerated [@2-7@]
Medical History Exclusions
- No diabetes mellitus or impaired glucose tolerance with additional risk factors 1
- No active malignancy or history of malignancy without oncology clearance 1
- BMI should not exceed 35 kg/m² with comorbid conditions 1
- No autoimmune conditions including systemic lupus erythematosus 1
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
The most critical error would be proceeding with donation at borderline weight without adequate volume assessment. Many centers require weights significantly above 110 pounds for plasma donation specifically (often 115-120 pounds minimum) due to the larger volumes collected compared to whole blood donation.
Do not overlook the need for comprehensive infectious disease testing even with negative history. All donors require testing for HIV-1, HIV-2, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and syphilis (RPR) at each donation 1
Ensure behavioral risk screening is conducted confidentially and thoroughly. The CDC guidelines emphasize that behavioral risk factors constitute absolute contraindications regardless of negative testing [@2-7@]
Clinical Recommendation
This individual requires weight reassessment and likely needs to gain several pounds before plasma donation clearance. If weight is confirmed at exactly 110 pounds, defer donation and recommend return after documented weight gain to at least 115-120 pounds. If proceeding at 110 pounds, ensure: