Boston (Cambridge), MA

How it works: A whole blood donation is a simple blood draw. A phlebotomist will insert a sterile needle into your arm and collect the blood in a blood bag or in tubes.

Time: A large blood draw (between 200 and 500 ml) will take about 10-15 minutes. Plan to spend 30-45 minutes in the collection center.

A small blood draw (under 200 ml) will take about 5-10 minutes. Plan to spend 20-30 minutes in the collection center.

Compensation: You will be compensated $50 for a small blood draw appointment and $100 for a large draw appointment.

How it works: Bone marrow donations may seem a bit scary, but they are actually relatively quick and generally very tolerable. A licensed healthcare provider will perform the procedure. You will lie on your stomach on the exam room table and a local anesthetic will be applied to numb the donation area. The bone marrow will be extracted from your iliac crest (hip) on either side. During the withdrawal of the bone marrow (called aspiration), you may feel a brief pinching sensation. When the draw is complete, you should not experience any impairment to your normal functioning, and should be safe to drive home.

Time: The Bone Marrow appointment takes 25-30 minutes. Plan to spend 45 minutes to an hour in the collection center.

Compensation: You will be compensated $250 for your Bone Marrow appointment.

How it works: White blood cells are one of the four components of whole blood. A white blood cell collection procedure is called apheresis (ay-fer-ee-sis). In order to qualify for apheresis, you must have large veins in both arms. You will be seated in a chair in a comfortable position and a sterile needle will be inserted into each arm. Your blood will be drawn from one arm and pass through the apheresis machine. The machine will separate the white blood cells and plasma and collect them in a bag.

The remaining components of your blood will be delivered back to you in your other arm. Please be aware that since the needles remain in your arm for the entire procedure, you cannot bend your arms for the length of the donation. If you need assistance (or even need your nose scratched!) you can always ask a StemExpress staff member. We are here to help! You will have a TV with wireless headphones and cable or Netflix to pass the time.

Time: A white blood cell collection takes between 3 to 4 hours. Please be aware that if the procedure is interrupted, you cannot be reconnected to the machine, and you may not be eligible for the entire amount of the compensation. Gaps between white blood draws must be at least 4 weeks.

Compensation: You will be compensated $150 for your apheresis (white blood cell) appointment.

How it works: A mobilized white blood cell collection is a special kind of white blood cell appointment where you will receive injections of a “mobilizing agent,” (G-CSF, a drug which boosts your body’s white blood cell production) before your apheresis appointment. If you qualify for this procedure, you will be scheduled for up to five days of G-CSF injections prior to your apheresis appointment.

Time: The first G-CSF appointment will take about an hour. The following G-CSF appointments will take approximately 30 minutes.

The white blood cell collection appointment will take between 3 to 4 hours (the same as a regular white blood cell collection).

Compensation: Depending on the project you qualify for and your total number of G-CSF injections, you are eligible for up to $1000.

*Qualified donors are eligible to be mobilized by G-CSF twice in a lifetime. You are able to continue other donations regularly, such as small and large blood draws, after the specified deferral period.

How it works: Researchers around the world need blood samples to facilitate their work developing new treatment technologies and even cures. To expedite this research, we collect many types of specialized blood samples including maternal blood, umbilical cord blood, and even small samples (only tablespoons) from cancer patients. These small samples are doing big work! For example, scientists can use maternal blood in the creation of simple blood screenings to detect any fetal anomalies in early pregnancy.

Scientists must go through many phases of research and trials before new technologies reach patients. By providing needed blood samples to researchers, we are able to help accelerate the time it takes to complete vital projects. It’s pretty amazing, and you can help!

Compensation: $50 for your time and effort.