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Plasma CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 others," said Carol Holmes, 35, a training coordinator at ZLB ser vices. “Others do it for extra cash — like a part-time job. ” Arthur Keitt, 33, said he has been donating since he was 18 years old —twice a week for the past 15 years. “You have to drink a lot of flu ids, eat right — no greasy foods,” he said. THE PROCESS Like part of a production line, donors sit in the waiting room and ^^itch television until it’s their ^im. An employee reads a list of names, and a handful of people line up against a wall before mov ing to the back room. Donors sit in cushy recliners and televisions buzz in the background. The cycle begins when staffers place the needle in the donor’s arm. Blood pumps through a tube and into a machine that separates plas ma from the structural material. Once the blood reservoir reaches a certain level, the machine stops si phoning and returns the blood to the donor without the plasma. About 690 milliliters of plasma are extracted — enough to fill two soda cans. ITS ROLE ^^The plasma is sold to business manufacturers that test, purify and resell it to hospitals, said David Teachey, 27, a medical lab technician at Palmetto Baptist Medical Center on Taylor and Marion streets. Teachey said he uses the pack aged plasma to determine the blood types of his patients, adding that plasma donation centers lower prices for patients by increasing the product pool. But plasma center products only serve as testing services. Teachey said products from plas ma centers never come in contact with a patient. “Blood products we give to pa tients come strictly from the Red Cross,” Teachey said. “e paradox Because the Red Cross operates on a volunteer basis, it receives the highest quality blood — but at the most risk. The quick fix for the Red Cross’ blood shortage problem seems to be donor payment, which would theoretically increase supply. But Teachey said the Red Cross aban doned payment in the 1960s be cause, while it attracted more donors, the blood quality was low. Plasma service centers started popping up once the Red Cross stopped paying. “They’re a benefit in a lot of ways because they supply com munities with a way tp donate for ^Bney,” Teachey said. “The oth er side of it would be, what is it do ing to people who donate on a reg ular basis?” The Red Cross, unlike plasma centers, deals with whole blood do nations. From whole blood dona tions a variety of products are de rived, including plasma. Teachey said the Red Cross could fill the role of plasma centers — the only difference being the money. But until the Red Cross re ceives high-quality donors regu larly, Teachey said both are need ed services. “There isn’t a middle ground,” he said. ^fomments on this story?E-mail gamecocknews@gwm.sc.edu tSt( ■fruf'rifo TREE! Mean 5ean Soft Taco we do things different... Qnicld Healthy! Fresh! 934 Harden 817765-2188 V®W through +/200+ ~ one per customer PRESENT COUPON tr STUDENT ID -It___ Portnoy CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 students and conductors from around the world to USC for three weeks of conducting a full or chestrain the presence of well known teachers and composers. Although Portnoy keeps busy in the United States, he travels all over South America, Asia and Europe. A graduate from New York’s Juilliard School and with a Master’s of Arts degree from the Catholic University of America, Portnoy is known for both his conducting abilities and his tal ent as a violinist. He founded the American Arts Trio, which has toured in the United States, Europe and South America. The conductor’s award is giv en to one person out of every con ductor chosen by the advisory committee. The award was es tablished in 1945 and is known to day as the oldest award honoring conductors for their dedication to American music. Past recipi ents include Leonard Bernstein, ■•Eugene Ormandy, JoAnn Falletta, Michael Tilson Thomas and James DePreist. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecocknewsfagwm.sc.edu WE DELIVER! Campus & Downtown 252-7229 I $2.00 OFF ! Any Food Purchase of $10 or more With this coupon. Not valid with any other. Must mention coupon during phone order or invalid. 9/31/04 Menu | Machos * Tacos * Enchiladas * Burritos * Wet Burritos | Tostadas ‘ Chimichangas * Nachos Grande Chili Plus * Taco Salad * Super Grande Mexican Pizza * Enchilada Dinner * Combo Platter Mexican Sandwiches * Taco Dinner - And More! I_r_I I,_>istihiS your n iPSti time f we’U pay you $50 to travel abroad!* mm mmmu Mfavei inruugn cuiupt* tur db »< TRAVEL CUTS See the world your way > receive $50 cash back when you book by March 31! 800-592-CUTS (2887) ,■ www.travelcuts.com ~ _ ".... ..........r----- :