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.

If I donated plasma at Biolife last Wednesday August 26th and again Saturday August 29th, when can I go again? Tomorrow?

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.

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.

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?

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…

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

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!!!

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

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?

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 drank one beer after plasing and have 48 hrs till next donation.what should I eat or drink in between?

It just keeps decreasing… starting to not get worth it anymore

Went Thursday to donate plasma as one does. I suppose the phlebotomist might not have done the nest job and now I have a fairly large bruise. Which wasnt a concern till Saturday morning when I lifted a large bag of dog food using the same arm and now im experiencing pain lower down my arm in the same heinous area. Should I be running to urgent care to get looked at or is this normal for a bruise of this size

So my local kedplasma is closed due to short staffing but I've seen people coming in and out of there after I discovered the door was locked. Does anyone in the Champaign-Urbana area know what's happening bc nobody is answering the phone?

Can i still donate at octapharma even though i lost my physical ssn card (i have an appointment soon to get a new one but i wanna start getting money rn) what will happen if i show up to my appointment tmr and only provide them my learners permit, and also i cant acess any w-2 forms since i havent filed taxes before, also my paystubs dont even show my ssn so idk what to provide,all i can provide is a bank statement and my id, is this good enough,

Never have gone to a plasma center I have a question

Recovering H addict okay so this is my “good” arm will they deny me for track marks ? I can take a UA I was thinking about maybe wearing a sling on my bad arm it’s very very bad …. But I can pass a UA and I need $ super bad to go to Ireland for dad’s funeral in 2 weeks … yes I work but I’m a widow father of 2 kids under 3 yrs old I’m paycheck to paycheck and obviously I’m going to have to get a flight for my kids too

At least yhats what a phlebotomy person said

Can someone help me this is not adding up and driving me insane BIOLIFE!!

Can someone help me this is not adding up and driving me insane BIOLIFE!!

I failed for low protein (just under passing) when it was taken for testing 5 days ago, I just learned yesterday. How much protein and/or what would you eat each day before taking SPE? I’m a lacto ovo vegetarian.

How many days would you wait/work on building it up before giving sample? I’m in a very tight money crunch. Would going back in 3-4 days be enough?

I thought this was mandatory for all companies to do. My first donation there was eairler the year. They didn't take any blood, I was 40 donations in, which was almost 5 months. And they never took blood. I read something on Google that they don't take vials of blood but do something where they test the plasma.

How exactly does it work?

I currently have the one year express pass for the platinum level. Am I able to get it again if I don’t waste my 10,000 points after a year or do I have to earn another 10,000 points. I’ve also seen online how it’s only a one time thing but also seen different post about how they were able to renew it. I’m currently confuse how this works. To give more context I use a location in CA. Any response will help 🙌.

OK so I was not even halfway through my donation when the power shuts off, comes back on, proceeds to repeat two more times I was terrified, but the machines have backup batteries (I’m guessing) the phlebotomist was freaking out because it was Friday and the place was full. The other technicians came and we’re trying to figure out what to do. One lady came in with a manual and gave instructions to the Other technicians and phlebotomist what codes to put in they unhooked me and I still got paid the full amount. Very unsettling experience.

Hi everyone, I know my question is a tad bit weird, but I've had a steady weight gain since I've started donating over a year ago.

I'm 52yo (F), only very lightly active / mostly sedentary.

My starting weight was 225 in May of 2025.

Weigh-in at my donation screening this past Friday, Aug 28 was 247.

My diet consists mostly of organic foods and few meats, I say only mostly because a select few things I enjoy aren't made in an organic way etc 🤷

And of course I sip electrolyte water all day prior and day of donation with a protein shake and sip more electrolytes directly after and all evening.

I do watch my intake of salt, carbs n sugar, any artificial sweeteners, fats etc. I rarely ever eat junk food, fast food, or highly processed food.

I get my proteins mostly from non-meat sources like leafy greens, nuts, seeds etc.

All this in a moderate attempt (albeit not gung-ho) to lose some weight.

Altho I appreciate the higher payout bracket, I'm concerned about the weight gain as it's harder to lose as a gal gets older etc.

I'd rather not invite any unwelcome health issues, and my primary care doctor is quite amazed I haven't incurred any (yet!).

All I can think of is that my protein intake is a tad too much for my daily caloric burn. 🤷

So anyways, given the context (I tried to keep it as brief but detailed as possible), could my weight gain be from the protein?

Thanks in advance for any feedback given ..