America: The human plasma factory https://www.bbc.com/audio/play/p0lcrvs6 The Human Plasma Pipeline: America’s Quietest Exploitation Machine The U.S. supplies around 70% of the world’s plasma—and the dirty secret is who’s bleeding to keep it flowing. Undocumented migrants, the homeless, opioid users, broke college students—these are the people keeping the global immunoglobulin market alive. Not out of altruism, but desperation. In border states, $50–$100 per donation (up to twice a week) is often the only way to afford food or rent. And yes, many plasma centers quietly accept Matrícula Consular IDs or just look the other way. This isn’t blood donation. This is plasmapheresis—your red blood cells go back in, your plasma is sold to pharma giants like CSL Behring, Grifols, and Takeda. It's a $24B/year industry, and it depends on people with no other options. Here’s how it works: FDA loophole: Plasma is classified as a "recovered drug," not tissue—so the usual ethics don’t apply. Donation deserts: Centers cluster in poor towns, near shelters, around universities. Health toll: Fatigue, needle trauma, anemia—and no long-term tracking or care. Legal twilight: ICE rarely, if ever, raids these centers. Why? Because deporting 20 million people, as Trump threatens, would collapse this essential global supply chain. Europe knows this. They outlaw paid plasma collection and rely on U.S. imports—especially for immunodeficient patients. The irony is thick: the same undocumented workers demonized by politicians are literally saving lives in Berlin, Paris, and London. Meanwhile, pharma PR paints this as "altruism." No one wants to say the quiet part out loud: we’ve built a for-profit medical empire on the backs of the desperate. Want to dig deeper? Listen to the BBC’s “America: The Human Plasma Factory” Check out ProPublica’s Blood Money series FOIA filings can expose DHS–pharma communications and donor harm data Look at where plasma centers are built—and who lives nearby Plasma: the only American export where the product has a pulse.
Shut up Tux. After hearing that Corey Booker is a Nazi, no one could possibly care about this crap you've posted. D-uh!
Yeah, his fingers were spread out. That not a salute then is it. Its live long and prosper for people who can't do the finger thing.
I am a trained observer. You are a little cunty oik. Fingers spread - not a salute. Your post is dumb. Now, plasma, focus.
Wow, Tux!?!? Why are you in such a bad mood? Still afraid the Dems will never #overcomethestink? You should be a little nicer if you want me to play along BYE!
I'm not in a bad mood, with my leg better I picked a fight and battered some Colombian lads yesterday. It really helps to relax me you know? Plasma everywhere.
Well, no one cares about this thinly veiled attack on capitalism. You keep missing the point that if the person isn't forced into it, then they can do what they want [with their bodily fluids]. I, myself, donate a quart of sperm per week to the local sperm bank in spite of having other options. My body, my choice.
You miss the point. What happens to the companies that depend on migrants? A sector nobody though about.
The businesses in that sector will think about it and do what's necessary. That's exactly why capitalism works. Everyone takes responsibility for themselves and contributes to the general welfare by doing so. Perhaps you can put a finer point on your point for us?