This facility is awful. For the second time in a row I've had to halt the donation process due to technician incompetence. Blown veins, poor sanitation, distracted technicians and a generally unhelpful attitude make this the worst facility I have ever visited in my life. I wish I could leave 0 stars.
CE
Cindy E.
The tech that did the vein poke…
The tech that did the vein poke evidently hit my vein hard and all the fluids that were being returned to my body instead went all over inside my left arm and I was experiencing some mild discomfort as the donation was moving along. I let the gal know it ‘felt different’ as I’ve donated plenty with no issues, but she didn’t seem to think anything was wrong.
The next day my arm hurt so bad on the site of poke and had begun bruising down my forearm and my bicep. Two days later my entire arm was so painful and bruised. I went into dr and was informed that the vein was bruised due to the incorrect insertion of the needle by the tech and I bruised due to the fluids going all over into my arm. Was not a great experience and very painful, not to mention embarrassing explaining that I was not beaten…. It was BioLife!
JK
James K D.
A man named Kevin that works at Biolife…
A man named Kevin that works at Biolife in Columbus, Georgia doesn't want me to donate again because He have something against me for some reason and came up with something so I couldn't donate and He came up with I have a body odor, I love to donate plasma to save lives but I'm not going to be back at Biolife because I'm not welcome to donate there, I'm handicapp and that could be the reason that He doesn't want me to donate anymore but that's fine with me, Have a blessed day
SD
Sapo D.
Idk why u have appointments when it…
Idk why u have appointments when it takes an hour to get to donating
AJ
Autumn J.
Sketchy, feels like a scam
I can't help but feel that this is such a sham. You book your appointment WAY in advance (like two weeks in advance) and then get there only to wait around for four hours before even getting a chance to donate. It is especially bad on Sundays as it seems they are ALWAYS understaffed, and the staff that does get scheduled is frantic and disgruntled at the amount of work they are being forced to do. With the scheduled appointments, this company knows how many people are coming (no walk ins) and still only had the bare minimum available.
Then it comes to the bonus incentives. It seems nice - warning up to $700 in one month? Yes! But myself, my coworker, and my coworker's roommate all had the exact same experience. We got a few donations in (3 out of 8) before being called and told something was wrong with our most recent donation. For me, it was that my alpha levels are too high.... Sure. Ok. So they said they needed to take a sample before I donate again. Ok sure. But I had to wait a week before giving the sample, then the sample would take 10-15 days to process. You can kiss that incentive goodbye! They were very quick to say that they offer no extensions or restarts on the incentive, before I even asked.
Overall, I wouldn't do this again. It's too bad, because the donating part isn't bad at all and I love that it is for a good cause, but everything else is just sketchy as hell.
AL
Al
Poor customer service and long wait…
Poor customer service and long wait times - McKnight Road location in Pittsburgh, PA. You get tons of emails begging you to donate to help sick people and be their hero and all that. You show up as the 2nd person in the morning even though you had a later appointment and they turn you way with only 6 other people there. Clearly they don’t care to get you in line to donate plasma. Forget any altruism. They don’t need your plasma, and it seems they are doing you a favor. Don’t waste your time with BioLife. Go somewhere else if you want to donate and help someone. And you WILL waste a lot of your time at BioLife. Like 3 hour wait times despite your appointment at a certain time. No one seems to be in a hurry. Why waste your time and gas to go to BioLife when they don’t act like they need your donation or respect your time. 3 hour wait for $40 your first visit of the week? Shameful. They have lost a customer!
NR
nicole R.
Not properly trained, as told by one of the techs.
On my 6th visit, I got a Hematoma. I understand that sometimes this happens, however.. The woman next to me got one too. It was the same tech that poked the both of us. Turns out he was new.
My issue is this: a different tech started telling us that THEY AREN'T PROPERLY TRAINED. That they have a floppy rubber arm to practice on, then are thrown on the floor. Someone will stand with them for like 3 tries, and then they are on their own. "Someone needs to be the practice dummy. It just happened to be the two of you."
I was given a tiny ice pack, and told that it wasn't a big deal, happens all the time. They had me read a paper that said I may get a bruise. Yes, my bruise is the size of my whole inner elbow, and dark purple. And a list of a few minor symptoms to look for. And said I could come back to see them if I was concerned. Like it happens all the time, and it is nothing to worry about.
Luckily, I researched more information, and understand that it was not my vein, but the techs lack of practice. (For the record. I am not mad at him. He was doing what his job told him to do. And I know he learned a lot on this day.)
A Hematoma due to a weak vein is one thing. LACK OF TRAINING is completely different. Why don't they have the proper liquid filled practice arms? Yes, the female tech told us all about how real nurses get those, but the techs don't. Yikes...
I was under the impression that all of these techs were professional nurses, and plabotomists. Not people who just left their jobs at the gas station, or whatever. And NOT TRAINED LIKE A NURSE/PLABOTOMIST.
Some of them are very professional, but others are very open with interstaff gossip, and complaining.
I just expect more from a place that can literally give you a blod clot, and kill you when things are done wrong.
KK
Kenny K.
Security security SECURITY
I was donating in Fondulac WI for 3 years then a center opened half the distance away and was paying more in Milwaukee. At 7am I came out of the Milwaukee center to find my vehicle had been damaged by vandalism. At least some security would be nice not just someone dressed up like security taking laps on the inside. Thanks for nothing.