Many people are confused about the difference between commercial plasma centers and Michigan Community Blood Centers. Here’s how they differ:

• Commercial plasma centers pay people to donate; Michigan Community Blood Centers doesn’t. In fact, the blood components Michigan Community Blood Centers distributes are labeled with the words “VOLUNTEER DONOR”.
• Commercial plasma centers are for-profit business enterprises; Michigan Community Blood Centers is a nonprofit organization with a mission of community service.
• Commercial plasma centers collect only source plasma, which goes for further manufacturing into products used to treat hemophilia and immune system deficiencies, products that can help treat diseases such as tetanus and hepatitis B, and plasma-derived albumin that can be used to treat traumatic injuries such as shock and severe burns. In contrast, Michigan Community Blood Centers draws mainly whole blood, which is separated into components including plasma, specifically fresh-frozen plasma, or FFP. Michigan Community Blood Centers also collects components (most often red cells and platelets) through apheresis. The blood components Michigan Community Blood Centers produces go directly for transfusion for patients, with the exception of recovered plasma. This is a byproduct of making red blood cells and platelets, or FFP that is nearing the outdate for storage and is not needed for transfusion; it is sent on to companies that manufacture plasma-derived drugs.

There is one important similarity between Michigan Community Blood Centers and commercial plasma centers: both are licensed and regulated by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and must comply with all applicable Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) requirements for clinical standards and safety.

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