DeKALB | Vampire side effects need not apply if these professionals suck your blood.

Students looking to make a quick buck often donate plasma, but some parents are concerned about potential health hazards.

An NIU professional with the BioLife center, 1455 County Farm Rd., assured students the process is safe.

“Plasma is replaced very quickly — about 48 hours — so there is no real physiological harm to the donor as long as the donation rules — diet, hydration, general health — are followed,” said Debbi Tiffany, lecturer in NIU’s clinical laboratory sciences program.

After passing an extensive screening process that tests for blood deficiencies such as hepatitis and HIV, donors spend an hour and a half getting the plasma extracted from their arm. According to BioLifePlasma.com, a needle is placed in the vein and the blood is pumped into a spinning device, which separates the blood from the plasma. Once the reservoir is full, the red and white blood cells are returned to the body.

Because plasma can be produced in the body so rapidly, donors are able to donate twice in a seven-day period without any side effects.

Reputations of plasma donation centers in the past have Frank Antonetti, DeKalb BioLife center manager, fighting to educate citizens of the progress the donation centers have since achieved.

According to Antonetti, BioLife chooses college towns in the Midwest for their locations due to their wholesome image as opposed to the bad neighborhoods in which the centers once resided. He said BioLife is striving to “change education and perception” about the donation process as a whole.

“We need donors,” Antonetti said.