Deferral interval for whole blood donation after paid plasma donation

The Medical Director of a Midwestern Blood Donor Collection Center reports that several prospective volunteer whole blood donors have recently made compensated plasma 'donations' at a local plasma center, to earn some extra cash. The inquiring midwesterner believes that the bad economy may cause even more volunteer whole blood donors to consider making paid plasma donations. The question therefore is: Does a multiple visit paid plasma donor (who gives plasma as often as twice a week) require any specific waiting period prior to volunteer blood donation due to cummulative red cell and plasma loss, similar to what volunteer donor centers track for apheresis platelets? If so, what is the interval and is there any requirement for documentation? This scenario was forwarded to FDA via matt@cber.fda.gov and the reply was that FDA does not currently have any specific requirements that specify a waiting period prior to volunteer blood donation for paid plasma donors who donate Source Plasma as often as twice a week. As a result, donation intervals for this type of situation are the Medical Director's decision. The inquiring Midwestern physician would like to know what has been the experience at other volunteer donor collection locations? Are others seeing that volunteer donors are making paid plasma donations, and if so, what deferral interval for whole blood donation is being imposed after paid plasma donation?

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