Welcome to BioLife

New Donor Information Kit

At BioLife Plasma Services, taking care of our donors is important to us and no one does it better.

Contents
I. 6 Simple Steps to Donate Plasma
II. About BioLife
III. Physical Examination
IV. BioLife Donation
V. Electronic Donor Questionnaire (eDQ)
VI. Scheduling Your Appointments
VII. Promoting a Safe & Healthy Environment
VIII. FAQs
IX. Health & Nutrition
X. Meet our Patients

6 Simple Steps to Donate Plasma

Congratulations! You’ve done the right thing - donating plasma to help save lives. Below are the six simple steps you’ll take on your first plasma donation. Your first donation may take up to two hours because of the brief exam we’ll perform on your first visit; all subsequent regular donations will be approximately an hour.

About BioLife

BioLife Plasma Services
BioLife Plasma Services is an industry leader in the collection of high quality plasma that is processed into life-saving plasma-based therapies.

BioLife operates and maintains numerous state-of-the-art plasma collection facilities throughout the United States.

In order to provide high quality service and a high level of safety to our donors, as well as the patients who receive life-saving plasma-based therapeutics, BioLife is committed to safety.

Each BioLife center is a vital part of its community, and with each visit, donors find a welcoming environment that affords all eligible individuals the opportunity to help patients in need.

BioLife Amenities*
As an industry leader in the collection of high-quality plasma, our state-of-the-art Plasma Donation Centers feature a number of donor-focused amenities that make your visits as pleasant as possible.

While you donate, BioLife centers offer:

A Clean, Professional and Smoke-Free Environment
Simple Online Scheduling System
Free Wi-Fi
Flexible Hours

*PLEASE NOTE:
Some BioLife Plasma Donation Centers do not feature all of the above amenities. For inquiry into the amenities of a center near you, please contact the center or visit biolifeplasma.com.

Physical Examination

Donating plasma is
a low risk procedure
with minimal or
no side effects.

BioLife Donation

That Second Donation Means so Much More
Did you know that it takes 2 donations before a new donor’s plasma can be used? That’s why a second donation is critical to those in need of plasma-derived products.

By donating plasma, donors can help ensure that a consistent supply of live-saving therapies is readily available to patients in need.

Because your donated plasma is replaced by your body very quickly, you may donate as often as twice a week. Remember, your plasma donations not only allow individuals
to lead a normal healthy life, but you’ll also be gaining the following:

Compensation for your time*
Sense of pride from donating and being able to give to those in need
Monthly incentive programs*

Our Mission
To provide the highest quality plasma to meet the expectations of our customers ensuring the availability of life-saving therapies for patients.

Our Vision
To be the leading plasma supply company in the world by continuously improving to ensure:

Every employee is valued and a fully engaged member of our team
Every donor is recognized for their contribution and given exceptional service
Every process is innovative and efficient
Every customer is delighted with our performance

We are working together to save lives.

*See an employee for current promotions

Electronic Donor Questionnaire (eDQ)

What is eDQ?
The Electronic Donor Questionnaire is a confidential and private method of recording your medical history.

How is my Biometric* Used?
Your Biometric, or fingerprint representation will serve as both your identification and signature attesting to the accuracy of your medical history.

When Will I be Asked to use the eDQ System?
You will respond to questions in the eDQ system every time you donate. Completing the eDQ questionnaire allows BioLife to ensure your medical history is safe and clear of potential risks in plasma donation.

Steps for eDQ

Read or listen to the entire question before responding.
New/Revised questions will be highlighted.
Answer each question. Use NOT SURE for any question that is unclear.
Select EXIT anytime you wish to discontinue the questionnaire.
If you have any questions, please ask a BioLife representative.
If you are using the audio portion and cannot understand it, please inform a BioLife representative.
Your responses may be reviewed with you at the completion of the questionnaire.

*PLEASE NOTE:
eDQ does not record your actual fingerprint. It creates and stores a numerical representation of it within a closed environment. Not only is representation highly encrypted during capture and storage, but not enough data is collected to recreate a fingerprint. Although extremely accurate in configuration, it maintains privacy and is confidential.

Safe. Secure. Easy.
Just like donating plasma.

Scheduling Your Appointments

1. Download the BioLife mobile app via the App Store or Google Play, or visit biolifeplasma.com and login to your account.

2. Tap Donate in the app or click Schedule on the site.

3. Select the desired date. Select the desired time. Click Confirm.

With the BioLife Mobile app, you can…

Schedule an appointment with 1 tap
Easily check your debit card balance
Track your progress for promotions

Questions / Technical Support
For technical support, please contact your local BioLife center.

Our Promise: Promoting a Safe & Healthy Environment

Here at BioLife Plasma Services, we maintain a safe and healthy environment by following strict regulations and practices designed to safeguard our employees, the patients who receive our plasma-derived products and YOU, our donor.

Working Together to Keep You Safe & Healthy
Because your plasma is processed into life-saving products, it is critical for you to be healthy at the time of your donation. BioLife Plasma Services is not a hospital or ambulatory care facility and does not provide medical care, treatment or see patients. This distinction is important to keep in mind while observing the practices and protective measures we have in place throughout the donation process.

You play the most important role in maintaining your health. By working together, we will ensure you have a safe and pleasant experience.

Donate When You Feel Well

Only donate if you feel healthy.You need your plasma to fight off infections.

Scrapes and Scratches

Cover any scrapes or scratches on your exposed skin before donating.

Our Use of Sterilized and Disposable Equipment

Sterilized equipment is used to collect your plasma. Collection equipment that is in contact with your blood or plasma is used only one time and is discarded after each use.

Non-disposable Equipment

Virus-killing disinfectants are used to clean and decontaminate all non-disposable equipment and surfaces (such as beds).

Frequent Hand Washing

You can help reduce the spread of germs by washing your hands frequently, especially after using the restroom.

Protective Measures

We apply the principles of Universal Precautions appropriate for our setting.

Employees wear protective gear including gloves, face shields and lab coats. Additionally, employees follow set procedures that have been reviewed by a leading infectious disease specialist from the University of Illinois Medical Center. These procedures minimize the opportunity for contact with blood or plasma. If employees have contact with blood or plasma, they will change their equipment immediately and wash their hands. Employees also routinely change their gloves, even when they are not contaminated with blood or plasma.

Cleaning the Venipuncture Site

We clean the venipuncture site area with an approved iodine scrub. This reduces the risk of introducing bacteria on the skin during the plasmapheresis process.

Caring for the Venipuncture Site

You should keep the site clean and covered after your donation. This reduces the possibility of any infection in the area. It’s important to keep the finger prick site clean as well.

Keep the pressure bandage on for at least 2 hours after your donation.

Avoid heavy lifting or strenuous arm activity the remainder of the day.

If you notice bruising or pain at the site, contact us right away and apply a cold compress. Try to keep the arm above heart level.

If you have additional questions, please ask to speak with a member of BioLife Management.

BioLife’s Medical Director and Environmental, Health and Safety Manager continuously review our policies and practices to ensure that we are adhering to the regulatory requirements established by state and federal agencies, who inspect our locations, ensuring that our practices meet or exceed the expectations with regard to eliminating any risk to our donors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who is eligible to donate plasma?
A: To donate plasma, you must be a healthy individual, at least 18 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and pass all other required donor eligibility criteria.

Q: Is it safe to donate plasma?
A: Donating plasma is a low risk procedure with minimal or no side effects.

Before a donor is accepted into the BioLife Plasma Services donor program, he or she must pass a physical examination and a survey of their medical history.

During each subsequent visit, a staff member checks the donor’s vital signs and asks questions about the donor’s medical health history. In addition, the donor’s hematocrit (the percentage of blood volume occupied by red blood cells) and plasma protein levels are checked. These steps help ensure the safety of the donor and protect the recipients of the therapies processed from their plasma.

Should you not feel well following your donation, please notify BioLife or see a doctor as soon as
possible.

Q: How long does it take to donate?
A: On a donor’s first visit, the whole process, including a physical examination, medical screening and the plasma donation, usually takes about two hours. Repeat donors generally spend approximately an hour in the center, with the average plasmapheresis process taking around 45 minutes.

Q: How is the collected plasma used?
A: Plasma is processed into a wide variety of life-saving products that benefit thousands of people everyday. Plasma-based therapeutics are used in the treatment of serious disorders such as hemophilia and immune system deficiencies, and to treat victims of shock and burn.

For example, those who suffer from certain forms of hemophilia lack the natural clotting factors that help stop bleeding after sustaining acute or other injuries. Plasma-based therapeutics are used to treat people with this disorder so that they may lead normal, active lives.

In addition, hospitals and emergency rooms all over the world use plasma-derived albumin in the treatment of traumatic injuries such as shock and severe burns.

It is important to remember that plasma is not a substance that can be produced in a laboratory or some other artificial environment. It can only be obtained from healthy adults. Plasma donors help save lives.

Q: Why do plasma donors receive money for donating?
A: Plasma donors spend up to two hours, as often as twice a week, in our centers to help save someone’s life or improve the quality of it. In addition, plasma donors must undergo physical examinations at least annually and a medical history questioning every time they come in to donate. All of these measures help to guarantee a healthy donor population. We merely offer compensation to our donors for their commitment to the program.

Q: How often can I donate plasma?
A: The body replaces the plasma removed during the donation process quickly; therefore, healthy individuals can donate up to two times in a seven-day period, with at least one day between donations.

Health & Nutrition*

At BioLife Plasma Services, protecting the health and safety of our donors is very important to us. Our wellness tips are designed to help you keep your diet well-balanced and to promote good habits to keep you healthy during your participation in our plasmapheresis program.

Tips for Before & After

Down those fluids: the best way to reduce side effects like light-headedness when donating plasma is to make sure your body has enough water. In addition, being well hydrated helps “pump up” your veins, and may shorten the time it takes to complete your donation. Drink plenty of water or juice the night before and the day of your donation.

Eat a healthy meal: be sure to eat a healthy (but not necessarily large) meal no more than three hours before giving plasma. BioLife recommends eating foods high in proteins such as lean meat or complex carbohydrates such as bread, cereals, fruits, etc.

Skip the alcohol: alcohol can cause dehydration during or after the plasmapheresis procedure. Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages the night before and the day of your donation, and at least four hours after your donation.

Avoid fatty foods: eating fatty foods such as hamburgers, fried foods, cheese, ice cream, cakes, etc., prior to plasma donation can give your plasma a milky appearance. This color change may interfere with the performance of laboratory tests. Therefore, if your plasma has this color appearance, you will not be able to donate plasma that day.

Not too hot, not too cold: drinking very warm or very cold beverages immediately prior to donation may lead to an inaccurate body temperature reading, as well as temporary deferral from plasma donation. Instead, drink a room temperature glass of water or juice to keep your fluid level up.

Catch some ZZZs: be well rested prior to your plasma donation. Sleep experts recommend an average of 7-9 hours of sleep per night in order to function effectively and improve your overall quality of life.

Skip a donation if you’re feeling ill: if you come to donate when you do not feel well, you will not be eligible to donate that day. Call your BioLife facility to reschedule your appointment and get some rest. This will help ensure your safety and protect the recipients of the products made from your plasma.

Avoid Smoking: smoking before a donation may increase your heart rate and blood pressure to values outside the acceptable range for plasmapheresis; thus leading to a possible deferment. Avoid smoking for at least 30 minutes before and after the completion of your donation. Smoking immediately after your donation may increase your risk of becoming dizzy or fainting and is hazardous to your health. Therefore, we recommend that you consider stopping smoking altogether.

Know when to call BioLife or see a doctor: Donating plasma is a low risk procedure with minimal or no side effects. However if you feel faint or dizzy after your donation, lie down (with your feet elevated above the heart/head level, if possible). Also, drink something sweet and eat as soon as possible. If any adverse symptoms occur or persist, we encourage you to either contact BioLife’s medical or management staff or see a doctor as soon as possible.

Pump up your protein: select a diet that fulfills the recommended daily requirements for protein. On average, under normal circumstances, your body requires 50 - 80 grams of protein daily. Proteins can be obtained from foods like eggs, meat, poultry, fish, nuts and beans. Your protein level will be tested at each visit, and if test results are outside the acceptable range, you will not be able to donate plasma.

Increase your iron: every time you donate plasma, a test of your hematocrit, the percentage of blood volume occupied by red blood cells, will be performed to determine if it is adequate for plasma donation. Some women may have a low hematocrit, commonly attributed to a low iron level in the body. This prevents donation. Eating foods high in iron, such as tuna, lean red meat, eggs, nuts, beans, dark green vegetables, raisins or taking a multi-vitamin with iron may help bring your hematocrit level to the acceptable range for plasma donation.

HIGH PROTEIN FOOD	PROTEIN
EGGS (1 medium size)	6 grams
SKIM MILK (1 glass)	8 grams
SOY MILK plain (200 ml)	6 grams
TOFU (100 g)	8 grams
LOW-FAT YOGURT (plain) 150 g	8 grams
FISH (cod fillets 100 g or 3.5 oz)	21 grams
ROAST BEEF (100 g or 3.5 oz)	28 grams
ROAST CHICKEN (100 g or 3.5 oz)	25 grams
OTHER MEATS AVG. (100 g or 3.5 oz)	25 grams

Meet our Patients

Meet Charlie, Kate and Tommy
receive two to three monthly infusions of a plasma-derived product.

Isaac infuses a plasma-derived product twice a month.

Mitchel infuses a plasma-derived product three times a week.

Wayne receives a weekly infusion of a plasma-derived product.