Talecris Plasma Resources

I have been coming here for a little over a month now (8 cycles) and I can honestly say, it gets better with time. My first reaction to this place was a negative one because the employees seemed unprofessional and more interested in laughing and joking with one another.
After coming here for weeks, I see MAjOR improvement. Some employees are better than others but it’s like that everywhere.
I enjoy the attention the pay (majority of the time) to the patients.
The 1^st time you go, make sure to bring proper paperwork or you will be denied. Be sure to have a LOT of free time because the 1 let process can take up to 8 hours to complete. The second time, you’ll need proof of address to be seen.
I like the perks and bonuses they have… for iPads, more money etc.
Overall, good set up, ok execution, obviously will be back.

The following review is by far the strangest Unilocal review that I have ever written, and by far the most disgusting and atrocious. It actually pains me to write a bad review, but I feel it is necessary to do so from time to time.
Today, what I did NOT like were two things: (1) a befouled piece of medical equipment and (2) a truly despicable employee.
I just came here after graduating from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. While I was a student, I would infrequently donate some plasma at the local CSL, which used to be located on campus (University and Huron). It was not a classy place, but, as a former medic, I know the value of plasma donation to society — I also needed the money at the time as well. A lot of the donors always said that the local Talecris was a bit more «refined» than CSL. That is why I chose to donate at TPR in Denver, versus another of the multiple other locations. I felt validated in my decision up until today.
First of all, I like all of the staff (except for one HIGHLY notable exception). I like being able to sit while waiting to be called (I have a podiatric disability acquired in the Army that causes severe pain during prolonged standing). I like the adequate parking. I even like some of the clientele that frequent the establishment (which is shocking for a place that gives you money for pretty much selling parts of your physiology).
I laid myself down on the table today, and one of the staff set me up and started the extraction process. Almost immediately, I smelled a horrific odor that can only come from an unwashed body in close proximity to my highly-​sensitive olfactory bulbs. At first I thought it was the staff member that set me up, but when he left, the smell remained as strongly as ever. I kept looking around for the source, but it was not until I was almost halfway done with the process that I came to realize where the foul odor was coming from: it was coming from the blood pressure cuff around my arm! It smelled like straight-​up unwashed armpit! I was APPALLED!
A staff member noticed my discomfort and came over to ask if I was okay. I told her what was wrong and she shrugged and walked off. I told another staff member the same thing and she went to speak up about it to someone else, which was some comfort at least. However, she spoke to another staff member, and the staff member just stated that I was in the middle of a draw, and there was nothing I could do. She also stated that the cuffs were all sanitized at the end of the day. Well, first of all, that information helped me none in the least; second, she could have just waited until the draw cycle, paused the machine, and then replaced the cuff; and third, this is APPALLING to a former medic in the Army! If we had a BP cuff that smelled bad or was discolored, we would wash and sanitize it immediately or just throw the damn thing out! If there is smoke, there may be fire, and we did not want contaminated products potentially spreading infection to our patients, our other medical equipment, or ourselves. She also had a nasty attitude toward me that was completely unwarranted and absolutely infuriating! It was like my mere presence and my discomfort were nothing but unwanted inconveniences in her day!
I demanded that I speak to a supervisor, and, when he eventually arrived, (I was told that he was in the cold storage area,) he was very understanding (thus why I gave 2 stars, instead of just 1). I was eventually disconnected, and I thankfully no longer had to deal with the obnoxious odor of B.O. I asked the staff member if she threw it away or not, and I was told that she would look into that; this did not please me very much, but I left it at that and exited the building.
This is the strangest advice I have EVER given others outside the medical field, but here it is: before you lay down on the table, smell your equipment first.

The inital review I left was a bad day for all. Since then I have returned 8 times (2x week). Its a busy place especially with the holidays approaching. Staff are great and friendly; some you have to aproach and initiate conversation some are just naturally outgoing. Its life and we are all on one end or the other; no ones perfect. Any questions I have had about the process or screening have always been answered. Some days the wait times are longer than others, but thats the way it is. Disgruntled cusotmers will create disgruntled workers who are trying to help you. If you feel that someone is just plain out not helpful, theres a time and place to bring that up and speak to a manager. You should keep in mind that your there to save lives. Stay calm and donate (cause if your BP is too high you wont be able to! LOL)