BioLife Plasma Services review: Faulty equipment for routine health screening

I went to Biolife Plasma this week where my time was wasted yet again. I am a fit athlete, and the last two times they measured my pulse they told me my resting heart rate was too high to donate. I lift weights 5-6 days a week; cardio is also 5-6 days a week. Both are at high levels of exertion. My diet is very clean. I had zero caffeine in my system.

Last visit the nurse informed me that if I failed the pulse check 3 times in a week that they would require me to be cleared by my doctor. The nurse showed me to the door; and I left quite irritated as I had to wait well over an hour only to be told I couldn’t donate again. I’m just trying take care of my body and donating plasma is good for you. There was no attempt to storm or push past a nurse or anyone. No mention was made of needing paperwork from my doctor at all.

I decided to wait until I was outside the week timeframe, and went to my doctor before donating plasma again. My doctor and his nurse performed an EKG and checked my vitals. My pulse was under 100 bpm. I had several cups of coffee that day and my pulse still read under 100 bpm. My EKG was normal. My doctor’s nurse informed me that the type of blood pressure monitor used at the plasma donation center runs high. Inaccurate equipment doesn’t seem too safe now does it? I also went to a medspa to see if cryotherapy would help. My blood pressure and pulse were measured. Blood pressure was normal and pulse was about 80 bpm. This was taken after coffee, a workout, cardio, 20 min in the sauna and a smoothie. Medspa also informed me that the plasma center’s equipment measures high.

I returned to donate tonight after the week timeframe had elapsed. I feel perfectly fine. Despite having not failed 3 pulse checks my account was still flagged, and I was made to wait 20 min to check in, let alone start the routine screening check of my pulse. I had an administrative flag on my account for no reason, and had to speak to a nurse before donating. The same nurse then proceeded to change her story a bit. The new story is that it’s not 3 times in a week but 3 times regardless of how much time passes between the first and last reading. Then the nurse tells me she tried to explain this to me along with the paperwork needed to clear me but that I stormed past her before she could finish. BLATANT LIE. That’s another 2 hours of my life I can’t get back for no reason. Maybe they should worry about their potentially faulty equipment and not about harassing me. There was zero reason to flag my account today and make me wait again. If the nurse forgot to tell me about the paperwork she could at least be honest. The cherry on the sundae was having it suggested to me by another nurse that I might want to workout and eat better. I am a professional bodybuilder with a pristine diet and regimented lifting and cardio plan.

I have no issue with a medical screening process or their donor eligibility requirements; I have a big issue with liars on an ego trip wasting my time for no reason.