You've probably had a blood drive at your school or workplace, and you may even have given blood and gotten one of the nifty little stickers. It's a good feeling, being able to help someone you don't know via your donation. However, you can only safely donate blood once every few months, and some people are unnerved by the side effects.

Another option is to go to a plasma donation center to donate plasma. Your bloodstream is made up of 57% plasma, a pale yellow liquid portion of your blood that is made up mostly of water and proteins. Unlike red blood cells, plasma is quickly and easily replaced by the body.

This means that you feel fewer side effects when donating plasma, and health adults can donate plasma much more often than they can donate blood. In fact, a healthy adult can donate plasma twice a week, providing that the two donation days are at least 48 hours apart. Not only that, but most plasma donation centers are willing to pay you for your donation!

To make a plasma donation, you can go to a plasma donation clinic where you will go through a medical screening. This screening will test you for any blood-born illnesses, as well as verify that you are an eligible candidate. Eligible adults are at least 18 years of age, weight at least 110 pounds, and meet a few other health criteria.

Eating well-balanced meals and drinking plenty of water the day of the donation also makes the process easier.

After the original examination, subsequent visits to the clinic will consist of a quick blood pressure and red-cell count, followed by the donation itself.

When donating plasma a needle is attached to your arm and small portions of blood are fed out of your body and into a machine. The machine separates out the plasma and returns your blood back to you in cycles. Once enough plasma is collected (the amount is dependant on your weight), the needle is unhooked and you are free to go. Plasma donation doesn't have the dizziness or other side affects that come along with blood donation associated with it, nor are there any long-term side effects.

Your plasma is then used in hospitals for a number of different procedures. It is used to treat hemophiliacs, those whose blood will not clot on its own. Donated plasma allows these patients to live their lives without worrying about cuts which will never stop bleeding. Plasma is also used to treat burn and shock patients in hospitals; your plasma donation will save lives.