In 1976, an article was published in the Tampa, Florida, newspaper. It stated that the Plasma International Company headquarters, in Tampa, Florida, would purchase blood in underdeveloped countries for only 15 cents a pint. They then would resell the blood to hospitals in the U.S. and South America. Soon after, there was a disaster in Nicaragua, and there was a need for blood. Plasma International had 10,000 pints of blood flown to Nicaragua from West Africa, but charged them $25 a pint.

After this was printed in the newspaper, citizens were angry and wanted Plasma International’s business licenses revoked. They also wanted to put a stop to selling blood for a profit. It was an issue of selling life and death.

In an interview after testifying, Sol Levin, the founder of Plasma International, claimed they were just trying to make an honest profit. He was asked if it was necessary to sell such a vitally needed medical supply, at such high prices, to poor people in critical condition. He responded that there are a lot of costs the public is not aware of. When asked what those costs were, he refused any further comments and claimed that that information was not for public consumption.