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On a related tangent, there is currently a nationwide IVIG shortage, which is used to treat a variety of autoimmune diseases and is obtained by plasma donation. (In Mr. Harrison's case, they needed one particular rare antigen, whereas with generic IVIG they need a mix of everything found in a normal person.)
As for why there is a shortage, it's a combination of 1.) the huge spike in all autoimmune diseases and 2.) the increasing awareness and medical proof that IVIG treats the symptoms of all of them to some degree, despite being obscenely expensive and a hassle to administer. But the end result is that some plasma donation places are raising their reimbursement rates. Around here they pay $40 for every donation, plus a $50 bonus if you make the maximum of three donations in a week. A dedicated donor could pull in an extra $680 a month.
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