In the US, most whole blood is gathered from volunteer donors, who receive
nothing for their good-nature other than the feeling that they have helped
someone they will never know.  Plus a doughnut and a glass of orange juice,
occasionally a t-shirt, and if they donate enough, perhaps their name on a
plaque on the wall.

Other times, you *do* get something for donating whole blood -- for example,
my HMO once held a blood drive where they offered to take $25 off the HUGE
medical bill for a family whose little girl had some sort of disease.  The
mother worked for the HMO, and had good insurance through them, obviously,
but still, the family's part of the medical costs was exhorbitant.  Target
(a store) offered their parking lot for the mobile blood collection bus, and
provided pizza and drinks for the people waiting in line to donate.  They
had over 200 people each of the two days of the blood drive.  Helping
someone specific often brings out more donors than just an anonymous
recipient.

A person can also donate blood for themselves, if they are anticipating
surgery.  And many government insurance plans have a provision whereby if
you donate a certain number of times, then you get any blood you might need
in the future free of processing fees.

Having said all that . . . in the US, it is common for people to SELL blood
components, such as sera.  In every college town, there will be a place
where people go and have the blood withdrawn, the red blood cells spun out
and returned, and the sera only is kept.  You can donate up to twice a week,
at up to $25 per 3 hour session.  College students around the US make
spending money this way.  Most college towns also have a place that pays
male students for sperm donations.

Kathy Dettwyler
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