The PPA in Berkeley procures blood and bone marrow for research with payment "for your time". They…read moreschedule donors during the mornings on Monday-Thursday so the products can be shipped fresh to the contracting laboratories. Plan to spend quite a while at the first visit filling out your medical history, including any prescriptions you take. If you pass the written screening, small samples of blood will be taken and tested for HIV and hepatitis. Once they are screened, which takes a business day, they will call to schedule your donation. A great thing: if you had questionable historyy from your distant past such that the Red Cross will not accept your blood, it will not disqualify you from donating as long as you never contracted anything. Nawid at the front desk and Barbie who explains and takes the blood are both very personable and effective. A doctor takes the bone marrow from two points in the hip bones. PPA prefers consistent donors, and will call you to ask if you'd like to come in again at the time blood or bone marrow has been replenished in your body. Payment is made in cash immediately afterwards, and was much more than the amount listed on the agreement form which must be signed at each donation. That amount may have been for plasma donation in their TN office. Rather than donate plasma, if you want to help medical science and yourself financially as well, I highly recommend PPA!

RED CROSS PAYS SQUAT, BUT THERE'S AN ALTERNATIVE ($$$)…read moreBiological Specialty Company pays $100 a pop for blood donations. Red Cross pays zero. Nada. Squat. And they don't mind wasting your time like it's nothing. Plus, they get paid for your blood. If you're going to give blood, make sure the folks you're giving it to value it appropriately. Get paid! Call BCS at 833-464-2873.

An American red cross blood donation center just popped up on College Avenue in Oakland. We tried…read moreto do a walk in blood donation, but they understandably prefer that you make an appointment via the website or their American red cross app. They do blood draws, whole blood donation, plasma donations, red blood cell donations, and also collect platelets for life-saving procedures. The woman who works at the front desk, Denise, is extremely lovely and will give you all the information you need. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday, see attached photo for details!!

Highly recommend coming to this location to donate blood. I haven't been able to donate blood for…read moreYEARS so after taking care of my iron, I was finally able! Nedah went above and beyond to explain everything was happening during the whole process. She also answered the many questions I had. It was such a great environment for folks who are uneasy about donating blood. Christmas music playing, everyone with smiles - It was a great experience that I already can't wait to go back to donate more blood when I am able. Parking is easy to access and it's a 10 minute walk from the BART station, too.

I went to the new Red Cross Blood Donation Center on College Avenue in the Rockridge neighborhood…read morein Oakland. There's some street parking in the area and it's walking distance to the BART station. This Center looks bigger than the Claremont space at least in my opinion it looks like it could take on more patients at once. I went in for Power Red (Double Red Cell) donation and the process went very smoothly, plus the stacked pantry or cookies/sweets/juice boxes after. The staff did a great job with the intake/pre donation steps, plus the actual donation. Those able should donate blood, we don't always know or expect when we might be in a situation where we or our loved ones need blood.

This place has literally changed my life…read more I started several years ago and feel like 10 years younger. The mobile blood draws and delivery of meds make it so easy. The concierge service and teledoc appointments are the icing on the cake. I can't recommend this place enough

I've been with Helix for over eight years (Black Card member), super fluid experience and I…read morecouldn't be happier. Docs and staff are super friendly and responsive and over the years I've received discounts from Helix MWR, as well as adjustments/fee reductions if something wasn't in order. Local blood draw locations could be better here in LA but they offer an in home option which while pricey, is super convienient and professional.

As someone who is incredibly afraid of doctor visits, Dr. McCune was perfect! She was attentive,…read morekind and caring. Great multitasker too - as she took notes, she pointed the screen at me so that I could see what she was doing, and she gracefully kept up the conversation. After I disclosed my discomfort around giving blood, she revised her plan to try and get as much done with only one blood draw. Dr. McCune also gave me some tips on how to handle the blood draw. Unfortunately I still passed out like a light, but we were well prepared and the staff in her office were incredible. Dr. McCune's medical assistant, Brittany, was also very kind and attentive. We had great conversation and she put me at ease during one of the shots. Unfortunately my appointment did start 45-60 minutes late that day (not sure if this occurs frequently), but in general I have heard all doctor visits often start late. I'll certainly be back! Highly recommend.

I'm still a patient of Dr. McCune's and she still deserves five stars. She's been a great partner…read moreover the years, and under Dr. McCune's care and her coordination with my GI I was able to get a diagnosis, and more importantly, get better. The first time I saw Dr. McCune I was at my lowest point, and for awhile now I've been really thriving. When I see her and have periodic health concerns or questions, she always takes the issues seriously, and she's able to put them in context of my overall health. She has also helped me see how far I've come in the past 5 years. Dr. McCune is the only physician at Sutter that I've stuck with for this long, and I'm grateful to be her patient!

This place is soooooo unreliable. They sporadically close and provide no indication as to why or…read morewhen they will reopen. Pretty surprising that a company of this size could be so bad at predictably being in operation. So, definitely plan on calling ahead to make sure this business is, ya know, being a business today. Otherwise, go buy a lotto card and stop in and see how your luck is on that particular day.

Having a needle stuck in your arm is not a fun experience. A huge shoutout to Shawntel, who is…read moresuper experienced and made the process easy and anxiety-free. I've never had a phlebotomist with such expert, perfect technique.

My dad experienced several ER visits at Summit Oakland, surgery at Alta Bates Berkeley and follow…read moreup appointments at local office. The service is good but some scheduling department is terrible. And automated system of billing office and pre-registration is annoying. He's 92 years old, with hearing problem and non English speaker. I handle all calls for appointments, answer questions without issues except the GI surgery scheduling department on 3/18/26. They never ask for my dad's concent before. Back in 7/16/25, my dad implant the temporary plastic bile duct stent, hospital stay from ER. Followed up appointment at Berkeley office on 8/26/25 for stent replacement. After visit summary: "Will call to schedule surgery appointment. (No phone number giving)" Few days later received a voice message with call back number. I called and scheduled 12/1/25, 2:15pm. (But I didn't save that number.) I started getting pre-registration automated message around 11/18/25. 11/20/25, after the oncolog visit, the doctor suggested to postpone the surgery for one month. So I search the phone number associated with 12/1/2025 surgery in MyHealthOnline app, which was not reachable. I drove to Alta Bates Berkeley ask for help. She gave me the surgery department phone number. I called but that's not for GI surgery scheduling. She told me to called the office, I explained to her that I don't have the correct number, she redirected for me. It's a voicemail box and I left the message. I also called Berkeley office (from Hospital discharge summary) as well. I got a call back and cancelled the surgery. Also she said next available is March 2026, so she put my dad in urgent request. After that, I never get a call for a new date. (Now I know why.) 12/18/25, the oncologist reviewed my dad's case. Since he is doing well, he suggested to wait till he has sign of blockage. I messaged back to Berkeley office and Dr Kurpath. After 7 months from stent implant, I returned to Berkeley office on 3/3/26 for stent removal. Same as phone conversation on 11/20/25, urgent request. Lots of details in after visit summary this time: "include phone number for scheduling department, if I don't get a call in 5 business days, I can call by the 6 business day." I was waiting but never get a call. Called on 3/16/26 at 11:20 am, wait too long after music playing. Leave a message, no one call back. Called on 3/17/26 around 10:30 am, same, leave message and no call back. 3/18/26, I get through the line but she refused to talk to me without my dad's authorization. It's my first time being asked for concent at Sutter Health facility, except pre-registration. Is the policy newly change or all my previous calls didn't follow the rules? Another scheduling issue with ultrasound at Summit Oakland during holiday season, last week of 2023 (12/26-29). The line was redirected to a voicemail box immediately (no ring tone) at all time for the whole week, never return the call. If you don't want to return the call, don't tell me to leave the message. I tried that number first week of 2024 (1/2/2024), it went through with the ringtone. Another GOOD experience to compare. My dad had an gallbladder IR external drain in March 2025. The follow up appointment on 5/1/2025. He's OK to have IR removal on 5/15/25 Summit Oakland, no time. (I'm not sure, I supposed to wait for a call.) The phone number on summary is the hospital front desk. I tried several times, but they can't redirect to the right department. I drove to the Summit Oakland for help. She bring to the radiation department. Unfortunately, the person who can schedule the appointment was not available. But she gave the direct line number to call. I can schedule the appointment time successfully on next day without any issue. This experience is OK to me. If you have a upcoming surgery, the automated pre-registration message is very annoying. It's difficult for my dad to complete it over the phone. If you don't complete, you will get the message daily. He will do it at the hospital on surgery day. Always received the bill and messages when pending for the secondary insurance. The system generated the bill to you after the first insurance.

Family member is in ICU and I called the nursing station for an update but nurse was on break and…read morewas told they'd call me back. IM OUT OF TOWN FOR WORK or I'd be there. Never got a call. Then saw they charted "Family at bedside/ POC updated and care of plan explained". I BEG YOUR PARDON. YEAH, SURE.

This place is Horrible! Worse than the DMV!! Never go here!…read more They let you sit and wait when they have no staff to take Walk Ins! Just say you're an appt only facility! People have things to do! Ratings. -100

I've been to this Quest twice in the past month. I've been pleasantly surprised by my experience…read moreboth times. I had to do a really large blood draw and was super nervous. The first time I went, my technician, Laura, was so compassionate and kind. The needle didn't hurt at all, although I started getting super dizzy during the draw and Laura calmly pulled out the needle, gave me water and had me put my head down to steady myself. She wasn't impatient or annoyed at all, and just kept a calm and professional demeanor. I also had zero bruising from the bloodwork, which rarely happens (compared with Labcorp where I end up with huge bruises on my arm every time I go there). The second time, Maryam was my phlebotomist and I told her I was super nervous and almost passed out the last time. She had about 15 tubes of blood to draw for me and moved me to a recliner chair which helped so much. No pain with the needle, and no bruising! And somehow I got through the whole thing without passing out and without having to stop midway. Both times there was a short wait, but at least I knew when I was going to be called and how many people were ahead of me because the names are on a screen in the waiting room. The facility is pretty stark, but it is a blood draw lab, I don't expect a whole lot more than the basics. The parking can be annoying. I would definitely come back to Quest over the other labs I've used - both of my experiences at this Quest were far more positive than Lab Corp or Sutter Health Lab.

This is long over due. Went there over a year ago, I had to do a full exam for work. Waited and was…read moreforgotten about in one of their exam rooms. Got there right at opening left around 1 pm. I had to do an annual exam (blood work required) for just health. I was beyond petrified because of the horrible experience I had here. I don't give blood often. But my god they did a horrible job here. I was bruised for days!!!!! I just had my blood drawn at quest and they did an amazing job. One shot and done. No bruising after. I'll attach photos of my arm after I was done at this place

Don't walk, Run from the Berkeley location!!!…read more I went to this location yesterday bleeding after a work incident. They forced me to complete a filed claim with my jobs insurance before I could even be put on the 1hr wait list. At least 11 people went in front of me before they would even give me gauze to sop up the blood from my injury. The facility is not sterile and pretty ran down. The lady at the front desk finally added me to list and never even asked for the claim details after she hushed me away the first time. The doctor came in limping and in bad shape. She barely wanted to touch my wound. Then had me run it under water to clean it before gluing my wound. No antibiotics no additional care or inspection was offered. I had to ask her to rap it up because it was still bleeding through the terrible glue job. And basically had to wrap it myself. The next day I went to the Concord location and it was night and day. They are happy to check you in when you arrive while you wait and complete paperwork, they actually appear as a doctors office with clean rooms and actually asked questions to get all the details of my injury. They even offered snacks and lighting changes for the room. It was 100% worth the drive. Concentra, please help this location improve they don't realize how an already stressful situation turned into a nightmare.