BioLife Plasma Services
Reviews and Complaints

I am writing to complain about biolife service in ankeny iowa a lot of the nurses are rude. They don't know how to do their job! They blew out my wife's vains then the second time she went in told her she could give because it looked tender to them not caring what she tolled them!

Now about my problem me I my wife drive over 30 miles to donate so the money we make goes to gas. That being said when I can't give because there are tiny little scratches from doing yard work on your arm is bull #! So if you ever plan on doing yard work before donating don't because you might not be able to! Biolife in ankeny iowa is a joke!

The woman who did my needle puncture was rude and not trained properly.
She was rough and hurt my arm and was visibly upset when I asked for someone else.
When I went in day to finish my donation for the week I was told I needed a vain check for absolutely no reason what's so ever.
It is clear to me that this was a retaliation tactic by one of your employees at the battlefield location, I will follow up on this matter and hope to see she has been deciplined or fired, please contact me [protected] for further information as I will forward my complaint to the bbc and consumer affairs, thank you
Claudia oqueli

I was speaking with austin explaining what had happened 6 years ago at the establishment... Was told 8 couldn't come back told them i'd right a review which I also plan on doing next... This individual spoke with some lady with and accent didn't get the name and told them I was swearing at them not on time did I swear at austin... At all actually... This other lady with and accent was all oh i'm soo sorry you can't come here now blah blah blah... Last time I was there also last person lied also... I did tell that ladywith accent I didnt fn swear... I'm so disappointed.. I was so excited to be able to come back to be crushed again

Mar. 30, 2017 layton biolife
I asked a question to the girl wrapping my arm if you had to have all of the mar 30 2017 layton clinic alan, a nurse at the layton clinic, documented untruths on the computer on my records as a result of me simply asking a question regarding the saline solution. I asked the girl bandaging my arm monday, out of curiosity if you had to have the entire bag of saline. I had seen someone have gatorade and not have to have the saline. Honestly, I don't like the saline. She said she thought that you had to have half. I wondered why they had not told me over the course of a year that you only had to have half of the saline. That peaked my curiosity even more and I asked "really, you only have to have half?" she said "I don't know for sure, let me ask someone". Alan, who I since have found out was a nurse, answered that you had to have the whole bag or only got partial payment. He asked why I asked, and I said I was wondering because I didn't like it and had at one time had a problem with swelling, (which I thought was due to the saline, talked with the nurse a year ago, stopped coming so frequently, and then it stopped happening.) so, this happened a year ago for some unknown reason and I was cleared and haven't had a problem since. However, he documented on the computer that I had said to him that I had problems every time that I donated. Lie number one.

Then, when trying to make an appointment to come back to donate that thursday, there was a note stating that I needed to call to schedule. When I did I was told that I needed to just come in and talk to the nurse and they'd get me right in. I came in and alan, who didn't state he was a nurse, asked me if I knew why I was there. I stated that I had no idea. He sat at the computer and told me it was because I had stated that I had edema every time I donated. I told him that I definitely did not say that. He said that I would have to have a note from my doctor saying that I was okay. Note: I had a physical there in feb. Just weeks ago at which time I was cleared with no edema. I asked to speak to a supervisor who then after telling him the situation said I think he made it into a bigger deal than it is and left the room to talk with him. When he came back he told me that alan said that he had checked me that very day, ten minutes ago, and saw that I had pitting edema on my leg. Lie #2.

He did not examine me at all! I had no idea he was even a nurse. I only found out when I asked to see a nurse to be cleared so I could donate and be on my way.
I will not be donating plasma any longer. I don't see why I should see a doctor for a problem that I do not have to get a note stating that I do not have the problem. Especially when I was just simply asking a question as to if you had to have the entire bag of saline, I got my answer and was on my way. I had no problems with swelling at all and haven't. Why would I want to schedule an appointment for a problem I don't have. I have already had my yearly exams.
You should have a nurse identify themselves as a nurse. I thought he was the go between person before I saw the nurse. I sat in a room to see the supervisor only to have the supervisor listen to me and go in and out of the room to talk with alan. Why wasn't alan in the same room at the same time with me addressing this? Then I could have asked him to his face why he lied about checking me. What is the deal with these employees?

I feel that my time there should have been compensated. I was perfectly willing and able to donate and was not told otherwise, while trying to schedule. They didn't even check my legs if they were concerned! I actually showed my ankles and leg to the supervisor to prove that I was fine. He told me he was not a nurse. So, I said then, let me see a nurse! That was the first time that I learned that alan was actually a nurse.

Used to be a biolife donor, the biolife center I was a donor at has been closed down for years, I havent donated in several years either. I am now tryin to become a new donor again at a biolife center, my information has come back that im still currently active at another center & also says that im permanently deferred, I believe I have been wrongly deferred and would like to have this corrected so I can be a donor that once again saves peoples lifes. Please contact me for further correspondence at james. [protected]@gmail.com

I had to have my dr fill out a form for sleep apnea, stating it's ok for me to donate, and a form for diabetes. I was there with my dr as he was filling out the forms, for the diabetes form I no longer needed to take medication so I told him he needed to state that on the for that i'm off medication, he said ok but forgot to do it. I told my dr and his nurse they also needed a list of my current medications but to contact me before faxing it to biolife just to make sure current meds were listed and ones no longer taking were removed. Well she never called me faxed all papers back so I had no idea what medication list had on it. Then he went on vacation for 2 weeks as did his nurse. Biolife then calls me and said because of diffrences between the information I gave them and what my dr sent to them. I stated to biolife that dr office was suppose to contact me so I could make sure information was correct. So they permantly deferred me. I asked them even if my dr contacts them taking responsibiliy for not follow the instructions I was told by biolife that he needed to write on 1 form and for not contacting me first to make sure medication list is correct, they said it wouldn't matter, I had to take the blame for his mistake and basically stated I didn't tell them about medication changes so bye bye. I told them that was a bunch of crap, unfair and wrong to be discussed about behind my back about the dr's mistake and not even give me a chance to make it right.

Do not believe their website. I was approved by the doctor at biolife to donate. I am a non-smoker. I do not do drugs nor drink. I do not engage in sexual risky behavior either. I've never been through chemotherapy or given a blood donation. I have never been on the medications that would stop me from donating either.

Well a long time ago, I had an internal organ removed. You would not know from looking at me because I look normal just like everybody else. Because I had an organ removed, the doctor at biolife needed to approve it. He did approve it and I was booked an appointment to donate that following monday.

Well... I sometimes get what it called phantom pain which basically means that your brain still thinks you have the organ when you don't. I take a very small, low dose medication that gets rid of the "feeling". It is not an opiate. It is a very safe medication and I only take it as needed. The last time I took it was 3 weeks ago. I would not describe it as pain. It's a feeling of still having the organ and it only happens occasionally. That was it! I was in not in pain! The stupid nurse denied my donation even though the doctor said I was fine to donate. That's like being denied because you took tylenol for a paper cut. All because the nurse wasn't sure how to put it in the system since I was the first donor that came in with an organ removed. She had no one there to ask because it was early. I don't understand how that was my fault.

What really upset me about this is that I prepared my body several days beforehand with the appropriate hydration and foods. I was so hydrated — too hydrated and I worked hard. I even got up at 5 am so that I could be there by 6 to donate. A complete waste of time! I will never go back to this place again!

I was there to donate to help the children of america 5 years ago and they had very rude workers that deferred me for no reason and I donate and then after I got done I went to there lobby and sit down afterward and then I blacked out because they never told me I had to eat before donating they are very unprofessional at this center in fayetteville arkansas and they told me to go to the hospital 7 blocks down the road and when I came back too and then I was asking questions about me and my body and they told me I was banned I just hope this site will get something done on this and there staff was very unhelpful and unprofessional I just want to be able to donate again to help the children of america
They should not be able to ban people for nothing that was not there fault and was there staffs fault

I came to donate plasma at the bio life center and denton texas, when I came in after I signed in on line saying that my child will be with me they told me that the daycare part would not open til 9 I was here at 830 I told them I would wait my friend was here to donate to I said can she wait or go in the lobby with the child they told me know that we had to wait outside then when I came back in to donate they had me go to the lobby where two people were there with their child waiting for the daycare to open now my child is a mixed race, my friend decided not to donate she sat in the car with my daughter I came back to start giving my plasma my friend came back in to bring my daughter since it was after nine inside the play area since I was back here they told her that my daughter can not go into the play area since I was already down at which I felt was wrong since they knew we were waiting for them to open to my daughter could go in there instead of sitting outside in the 33 degree weather, then after I was sitting back here donating my friend called me to let me know they came out and told her that her and my daughter had to leave the premises since they weren't donating they could not sit in the car I totally disagree with all of this I think they are being very racist and i'm very upset, if something is not done about this or addressed to where i'm aware of it I will take further actions. I'm donating plasma for people that need it and this is how I get treated me and my child.

I was at biolife a week prior. I was having a pleasant conversation which some employees seem to "over hear" and they proceeded to make extremely wild claims. Last I was called columbine to my face twice, insulted by multiple employees when I was there. They pulled me in to the back office to ask why I said what I never said. They then proceeded to say how others heard me, and I kept trying to explain that is not possible. The lady proceeded to quote me saying anti-semitic slogans even though i'm half jew. Then she said I made a threat I never voiced/conceived all the while the manager is further offending me. My only source of income is gone because some one claims I said stuff I never said. Now I can't afford marijuana to medicate my stomach condition and inoperable testicular cyst. I've left 3 messages on their machine after I broke down crying in a public park. And i'm a 21 year old man

Treats those trying to be new donors like absolute garbage. I had all the right identification and residency paperwork, yet I was refused because I was still "active" at the biolife in denton, texas where I last donated over 8 years ago! I was told i'd have to be "deactivated" before I could donate at the missoula facility. But rather than just calling the denton facility to deactivate me, they send me on my way and tell me they'll call me when the denton facility responds to the fax they're going to send them. Nonsense. I was willing to wait; all they had to do was call the denton facility and tell them they're faxing the stupid form to deactivate me, and it could've been filled in and faxed to the missoula facility, yet they refused to do so. This facility has gotten a very bad reputation for finding any excuse to turn away new donors, and my visit confirmed that. They're also paying the same amount for donations they did over 8 years ago even though we all know they're receiving more for our plasma than they did over 8 years ago. And they won't pay you in cash anymore — instead, it's a visa pay card that has all these usage fees. Advice: steer far clear of this biolife facility, for they treat people both crudely and rudely.

I was a faithful donator and loved going in to donate. After some time I was required to submit for a physical. I was fine with this, and followed all directions. When asked to review my personal history information, I noticed an error. When I brought it to the nurses attention, I was treated badly and permanently banned from donating. When I tried discussing this with the center manager cory, he became rude. I then contacted the corporate headquarters and while they took my complaint, I do not feel that they actually paid any attention to the disrespect I have been shown. On top of that issue, the center manager called me, verbally harassed me, and banned me from calling. He then, in a very threatening manner, assured me that he would continue to contact me, even though I politely asked him not to. I would avoid this company at all costs. I am not the only person this has happened to, i'm just the only one that will not accept being bullied into silence.

After I did routine questions& tests I was set up to donate plasma. As soon as the machine kicked in and started to separate blood and plasma I had immediately noticed that the bag collecting plasma was not the normal ‘apple juice color’ but that it had a decent amount of blood in it. I then told several different employees that it appeared to be abnormal. Even after looking at the bag they had dismissed the color and my concern for the abnormal factor. When I was being taken off the machine an associate had told me that it was going to have to be discarded because there was so much blood in the bag. Right before I got off the donation chair I was told that I was going to have to see a nurse to address the questions that I had. When I got up from the chair I was told to follow an associate to the check out screen. Not once had they had any kind of concern about me walking or standing at the touch screen to log out. After I logged out I was told to sit down and wait for a nurse to come and answer the questions I had. I was called into the nurses office was told that I was going to have to wait at the center for 30min because I might be lightheaded. I had then asked if I had a family member come and pick me up and I was a passenger in the car if I could leave. (thinking that the only reason that they don’t want me to leave and drive a car is because I would be lightheaded.) I verbally attempted to rationalize why I couldn’t leave in a family vehicle if I wasn’t driving because of ‘lightheadedness’ and honestly got frustrated because I didn’t understand why I couldn’t leave if I wasn’t driving for being ‘lightheaded’. After I sat in the waiting room and told my husband that I didn’t think that I should drive and that he should come and pick me up after I got done with my 30min, I had different lady pull me into her office and begin to explain why I couldn’t leave. Reasons like blackout pass out, lightheadedness &dizziness and had verbally recognized that I was obviously upset at the situation. She asked me why I had gotten that way to begin with. And, I had told her that it was because the nurse hadn’t ever said that I might pass out, might blackout, or might be might be dizzy! And that I couldn’t rationalize not being able to leave for being lightheaded if I wasn’t driving. And, then confronted her about feeling like I was being pulled into an office and ‘getting a talking to’. I told her that if the nurse had originally told me that I might pass out, black out, or be dizzy that the reasons for keeping me there would have been rationalized! I told her that I had called my husband and that he was going to drive me home after my 30min and she told me that if I left I was pretty much going to be banned from coming to another biolife facility. After feeling like I had been done such a disservice from the faculty right down from telling the associates that something was wrong from the beginning, to not telling me all of the symptoms that I might encounter so I could rationalize such a request and not have become so angry this entire situation could have been avoided!

To start off with I have heard a lot of complaints about biolife from friends and customers. I work in a company pharmacy about a block down the road and whenever asked about it I would tell customers that the service seems to vary from person to person. Now today I can add my experience to the negative ones. When I first scheduled my appointment I called to ask if I was even able to donate because I take keppra to prevent seizures, which I have been seizure free in over 8 years. I was told, no this shouldn't be a problem, which I figured would be the case since I am able to donate regular blood. When I arrived today all the help talked among themselves and only spoke to the "customers" when asking a question. At several points I considered leaving because it seemed to be a waste of my time when the staff themselves weren't even focused. They also had several machine malfunctions that I could not even begin to believe. I had to touch my finger to the sensor at least four or five times each time and had to have my picture taken three times for it to register. Thirty minutes later I finally was taken into a room with a nurse to review my questions I took on the computer, which again I will add three of the six computers were actually working. The first question was do I take any medication? Again I said exactly the same thing I did when I called, yes I take keppra to prevent seizures, but i've been seizure free for over 8 years. At that point I was told I could not donate. When asked why the best answer I got was keppra binds to the plasma. When I asked even if this was true why it would matter, she had no answer for me. Well i'm disappointed to tell you but your nurse does not even have the correct information, to start with plasma is not influenced by keppra. Several studies have been done and no determination has been made on the effect plasma donation has on seizures. As a matter of fact, several of our customers who have had seizures donate plasma twice a week like a “normal person” could. Also as stated on your website, being able to donate is determined by severity and type of my seizures, neither that I was asked about. I find it rather interesting that someone could take any number of illegal drug and go in to donate plasma while lying on this test and get away with it but yet someone who has had an actually condition in the past that's truthful may not donate. Neither I nor any other member of staff that I work with will be recommending this facility or business starting today, which unfortunately will be a large number of people due to the company size. My intention of donating was to help people that truely needed it, not to give a job to someone who's too lazy or rude to get any other job. I apologize to the people who true do need these types of studies done but it looks like I will be going back to the blood center of iowa where they have no problems with this medication I am on and actually are pleasant to their staff.

I am complaining because I was resently premanently deferered. They said that I was untruthful with them about the tattoo's I have. They continued to call me a liar. When I left I was so mad at the thought of being called a liar. I have two tattoo's one on my ankle and one on my breast both for a special reason. I never hide the reason for them I am open and tell whomever may ask. Well the problem with this company is that when I confronted them with this problem. The were all sweet telling me that they were sorry I was treated like that and would do every possible to fix situation. Then upon conclusion of meeting said I should here back in a week. The week came and the caller stated they werent going to fix anything because there rules dont allow. I think rule are rules but in some situations they should be looked at and amended when time is right.