Millions of people across the world rely on life-saving medications made from blood plasma. And U.S. is the leading exporter of that plasma.

Here in the U.S. donating plasma is a legal and regulated process. It is also a paid exchange. Although you can’t sell a kidney or even your blood, there are parts of you that you can sell to earn money. For example, donating eggs for assisted reproductive technology is legal and paid. 

And the United States is one of only a few countries in the world that allows people to sell their blood plasma. And millions do so every year, as we learned from some of our listeners who called in. But the multi-billion dollar for-profit blood plasma industry, also relies on middle- and low-income donors. 

We talk with Kathleen McLaughlin, a journalist and author of the new book, “BLOOD MONEY: The Story of Life, Death, and Profit Inside America’s Blood Industry.” In the book, Kathleen explores the U.S. Blood Plasma market in this new book, but she begins her story in China and her own personal connection to the blood plasma industry.