I love the idea of it, I love being able to help people and the pay is decent, but I just hate where I gotta drive 20+ min at biolife, wait for 1 hr minimum in line, then get told I can’t donate bc of my heartrate

Not sure if it's the case everywhere, but apparently at Grifols, laser tattoo removal can cause a deferral. It looked like a slightly splotchy, peeling sunburn (NOT infected or anything) when I went in and the tech who took my vitals was like um... I'm not sure if that's ok, so he had his supervisor check. According to her, it's in their rules (she did admit that it did NOT look infected). I thought I'd be deferred for a few days but over 2 weeks later, still deferred (and they won't tell me how long the period is over the phone).

It healed in about 5 days, and I was getting frustrated that I couldn't donate, so I'm now using a new facility. I didn't mention removal since they didn't ask. 2 successful donations now done.

It honestly never entered my mind that laser removal could cause a deferral. I don't see the reasoning but it is what it is.

Lesson learned. Wait until it heals.

Sharing to hopefully save others the 3 hour waste of time I experienced today.

At least at the BioLife in the US, colonoscopy puts you on a 4 month deferral. And if you’ve had any skin cancer, including just having a cancerous mole removed, they have recently updated guidance to require your doctor to fill out a form about it.

Just providing a heads up so you can manage your expectations and plan accordingly.

Looking for the current pay amounts for the CSL Plasma center in Philadelphia/Olney Avenue location?

For over 3 years, I’ve been dutiful and donating plasma to these guys. And this past couple months I’ve seen it go lower and lower.

Has anyone else gotten these kind of numbers from Biolife? Does anyone have an explanation as to why they’re doing this recently? At first I thought it was because of the economy being screwed up rn, or because I moved from the Austin to the McKinney location. Either way, I have half a mind to go back to OctaPharma. Despite the good service, I’m getting REAL tired of Biolife’s nonsense right now.

Bring it back to 130 or even 120!!!

They told me the first time that my protein was 5.8 and needed to be 6. I retook it and missed their call but the app says I have to retake. Any tips? I eat protein with every meal…

So from the looks of the email I got today it looks like Grifols in my area is switching to the same sliding scale compensation as the other plasma donation centers. In the past they had a constant compensation system ($55 for first and $60 for second).

I'm hoping it doesn't go the way it has at other places. I've noticed some of the posts here the weekly compensation has shifted down quite a bit.

Anyone know if they give bonuses for return donors? I am in Chicago and haven't been there in about 18 months. They used to give a return donor bonus after 6 months.

I’ve only been to donate plasma once over a year ago. however, when I went my heart rate was slightly too high, I think just slightly over 100. they let me sit in the corner/waiting area for around 10 minutes to try and calm myself to bring it down lol. eventually it worked but I had to hold my breath when they measured it the 2nd time.

I’m wondering if I can ask them to take my heart rate before they prick my finger to do the blood test? needles give me anxiety and it makes my heart rate jump. when I went to biolife they did both tests at the same time, but can I ask them to do it separately?

I’ve only donated plasma twice, but both times were extremely difficult for me.

The first time, I definitely wasn’t hydrated enough. The percentage on the machine was moving incredibly slowly, and after about an hour and a half, I had only made it to around 50%. The donation eventually stopped at 57%, and I was on the verge of passing out for most of it. I wasn’t able to complete that donation.

The second time, I took preparation seriously because I didn’t want to get deferred again. I started eating and hydrating properly about 24 hours beforehand. I drank 8 bottles of water + 1 gatorade throughout the day before and the day of my appointment. I ate full meals with plenty of protein, and when I checked in, my vitals and protein levels were all good.

I made it all the way through the second donation — 100% completed — but around the 65% mark, I started feeling awful again. I became extremely sweaty, pale, nauseous, and felt like I was about to pass out. It was honestly a fight to finish. I had to work HARD to stay awake and keep myself from fainting or throwing up.

I have my third donation today, and I've amped up my hydration even more this time. I'm so anxious though, because I need the money but it's so hard for me. I can’t be the only person who struggles this badly with donating plasma, even when I prepare correctly. I need the money so I'm going to continue doing it.

Please, yall. Are there any tips or tricks I'm missing that could help my experience? I saw something about Tums helping?