Story perspectives

Middle-Class Donors Turn to Plasma Amid Rising Costs

3/21/2026

Summary

Story summary

Joseph Briseño, a supervisor at a Houston waste disposal company, donates plasma four days a week to supplement his $50,000 salary as living costs rise.
Research shows plasma donation, once tied to low-income individuals, is increasingly attracting middle-class donors.
New plasma centers are opening in middle-class neighborhoods, signaling a shift in clientele.
The trend highlights financial pressures on the American middle class as they seek extra income.

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Story summary

Joseph Briseño, a supervisor at a Houston waste disposal company, donates plasma four days a week to supplement his $50,000 salary as living costs rise.
Research shows plasma donation, once tied to low-income individuals, is increasingly attracting middle-class donors.
New plasma centers are opening in middle-class neighborhoods, signaling a shift in clientele.
The trend highlights financial pressures on the American middle class as they seek extra income.