oh wow, even that headline.

Oh I would love to!

Hi cousin Marge! ✊🏼

Weird autocorrect from my phone!

the payments are not straightforward, they are based on how often you donate and incentivized to get people to donate at the highest frequency allowed anywhere in the world. The hourly pay does not reflect actual time and prep required - it's much more complicated and opaque than it might seem.

I think there's a pretty obvious argument that regulatory oversight remains weak because the industry primarily targets people who aren't wealthy or connected.

Thanks, Katharin!

It's crazy how big it is, and how hidden it is despite being so big!

I tryyyyyyy, Frankie!

Super interesting development. Unfortunately it's nearly impossible to mimic the components of human immunoglobulin (IVIG), which is the primary medical product made with the plasma Americans donate/sell.

I love the needle wizards. So hard to find, and so amazing when you do.

I don't know what you're talking about, but it's not legal to sell plasma in Haiti. There are only six countries in the world where it's allowed, and the US is the largest source of human plasma in the world.

*precarity, that is

wild story, but I'm having a plasma infusion right this very minute, so thanks for being donor ;-) It does saves lives; it also makes huge profits.

We have a large population of people who live with economic precocity - moreso than other wealthy nations. It's a fact. There are reasons the practice of paying people for plasma remains legal here and not in most of the rest of the world.

Here's a documentary on the topic I just did with the BBC. The economics of blood in America are fascinating www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...

It's a shocking statistic for sure! I think because it primary affects lower-income people, the scale of the industry remains hidden to most people.

It's all in there, including that Europe (wealthy nations) is the primary importer of American plasma. I suppose it's more fun to argue over a post or a podcast though.