I was deferred because my vein was missed causing excess bleeding. I had to provide a letter from…read moremy doctor stating I didn't have a bleeding disorder and confirming my meds. It still took another week because their "doctor" only comes once a week. Today I went in only to be told I'm permanently deferred because my meds that haven't changed don't match what's on file. Nothing has changed. I asked twice to print a side by side but the "nurse" wouldn't. She also said I wasn't truthful about asthma. Apparently they don't know what medications are for. They have lowered rates so my guess is they want to weed out people to save money. Not save lives

This place sucks they are slow all the way from pricking to getting you unstuck when you finish…read moreyour donation they are rude as f*** like if it's anyone's fault they don't know how to do their own job I sat for an hour to just be pricked there was only 8 people ahead of me once I finished my donation I sat for 16 minutes just to be unstuck it's a waste of time never going back to that ghetto place

They refuse to pay the $10 I'm owed from April 30 just because I have to pay for them shutting down…read morefor a week. Other than the lack of honesty about the pay I have no complaints about regular staff. The care has been above average.

Horrible facility. Very prejudice. They also have it set up to where no one can make complaints…read morewhen the unqualified technicians abuse and mistreat patients. They lack compassion and respect for people. My mom was mistreated with a needled left in her arm, the manager lied to cover for the technician and laughed about the situation. Very dangerous facility. The white female's technicians as well as the white manager are very rude and I am concerned for other's safety.

Went to octapharma plasma today to give and they was closed, closed at 3:45 when they are open…read moreuntil 7. This is not the first time I've came here and they were closed. If you can't service your customers and stay open until you're supposed to close, close the place down or get some people that want to work. This is bad business.

This location recently opened and looks very nice inside. There are a few still in training since…read morethis location is relatively new. Also, the kiosks used to check in seemed slow to upload considering its new. Maybe a reboot is needed. With COVID, more sanitizer is needed in different areas. You use your finger to sign in at the kiosk and when getting your vitals done but there is no hand sanitizer. Also, not sure if blood pressure cuffs and beds/chairs are sanitizer after each use. Apparently a person who donates plasma can only be given two sticks at most to donate and neither attempt worked for me. I've donated many times in the past and usually you feel the stick since it's about a 16G needle. I actually didn't feel the second stick but it also wasn't in the vein. In their defense, I was probably slightly dehydrated. I'm going back in a few days to try again. While I could go to another location, every staff member was very nice and they get five stars for customer service. Obviously I am not including the ability to stick someone the first time every time. I'll try to edit and post an update later. I would also like to add that it's not a good idea to go in a group if it's your first time. I referred two friends and we all showed up at the same time and the process took longer than usual. There's only one person that was doing physicals for new donors. What to bring - A local address is needed. This can include a military base address if you are TDY and a statement with your actual home if record address is needed too. - SSN card. There are a few alternative options and you can call and ask them about it. - a book to read while you wait and donate - I get cold easily and bring a blanket with me - water and a snack (vending machine has chips and soda) There are currently a few different promotions. Not sure or can't remember what they include at the moment. Not much of a wait, if any, to donate for returning donors. There's also lots of parking. Recommend checking out this location.

take forever too do screening standing in line for hours. other than that I would give 5 stars but…read moreonly get 3

The Norfolk location had been doing a good job until 3x ago my husband had 1 particular young lady…read morereally hurt his left arm. It hurt so bad that he wouldn't use that arm to donate anymore. He was using the other arm fine until he got the same young lady again the other day. It hurt bad and the numbers stopped so she called over the Dr and he said to pull it out so.e to get it going again. It did but still hurt bad. By the time he got home his arm was bruised bad and he had a liquid pocket under the skin on his bi ep and one on his forearm. We called and spoke to staff then a nurse and we told them what the nurse was wearing and how she had a clear face cover on so that she wouldn't hurt anyone else. Theu didn't even care, much less have her stop from hurting people. I'm not an attorney but this is the exact definition of "NEGLIGENCE." They have been informed and still not taken action to remedy it nor have her stop from hurting the next people. I guarantee if her records are pulled she has hurt many more. Truthissearching@yahoo.com

Donated blood today at the Coast Guard blood drive in downtown Norfolk. It was so easy and so…read morenecessary. The Red Cross staff was super friendly (Team Lead Spencer & volunteer Cindy) and respectful of my time. I was thanked for my donation several times by Red Cross staff and volunteers. No fuss, no pain, no reason not to sign up again for the next drive! Please consider donating today.

I had a great blood donation experience here today! The Blood Donor app said they started walk-ins…read moreat 6:30am, but when I arrived at about 7am I learned that whole blood donations (as opposed to platelet) don't actually start until 8am. Regardless, the ladies working happily took me back to start the process. It was easy from start to finish. I've donated numerous times before at different venues and this was probably the most painless all around. Mrs. J was so sweet to talk to and she always made sure I was comfortable. The whole process was efficient, the facility was very clean, and the personalities of the staff made my morning. I'll be back in 8 weeks!

This American Red Cross is located along W. Brambleton Ave. This is the regional services center,…read morenot the donation center, which is right next to this building. You can also get here using The Tide (light rail). The closest station is the western terminus at the EVMC / Fort Norfolk station. I did drive here, but at least I have GPS in my car. I normally don't travel into Norfolk very often. However, an event by the American Red Cross brought me here on March 27, 2019. The reason for this visit was for a Donor Appreciation Event, as I donate platelets regularly throughout the year at the Virginia Beach location. After arriving at the location, parking was plentiful. There is a door that you have to get "buzzed" in, but there was a staff member at the door so there were no issues getting in. As I was getting to the registration table, Scott found me and was looking to get my info, as he is one of the staff that I have worked with many times at the Virginia Beach Donation Center. After talking for a bit and looking around a bit, I went into the main conference type room they had in there. This room is where the main event would occur. There was a table at the back where we could pick up a box lunch provided by Baker's Crust. I went with the chicken sandwich for my lunch there that day, which was very good. After eating and everyone was mostly done eating, the main event began. Many of the regional American Red Cross staff were on hand, and talked about the importance of blood, platelet, and plasma donations. There was also a recognition for those of us that donate platelets, specifically those that had 18 or more platelet donations for the year. I was one of them as I had 20 platelet donations in 2018, and well on my way to matching that for this year as well. There is a plaque for it as well that is now put up in the Virginia Beach location. After that, it was time for some stories by donors. Some of the donors were actually receivers themselves at one point for blood, platelets or plasma products. These stories were very moving and makes one want to continue to donate. It ended with the regional staff asking for monetary donations, etc., but said they were required to say that. Overall, it was a great experience and event. The staff have always been great and attentive. I also found out that there is a bit of cost for platelets, blood, etc. by the hospitals, but the costs are only to cover the testing of the product, storage, etc. If you have never donated blood, plasma, or platelets, I definitely recommend looking to do so. You could be saving many lives in the process.

I had been to this center a couple other times, and had positive experiences - but not today…read more I arrived about half an hour before my platelet donation appointment at 9:30, so I could relax and get my pulse within range, and even brought my machine to check. It was gradually coming down, and one of the nurses said waiting until about 9:40 was fine. 9:30 comes around, and the charge nurse, Jackie, said, "there are only three nurses here, we need to get going," despite what the other nurse said. Of course, it was out of range. I understand that they have schedules, and I suppose I should have arrived even earlier, and maybe 10 minutes wouldn't have made enough of a difference. That being said, I was there out of the goodness of my heart, no one else was on the donation bed, and waiting ten minutes for a volunteer is not the end of the world. Jackie, really unprofessional on your part.

computers went down just as i was completing my screening so of course…read moresystem did not print out my lable in order to move on to the donating plasma process i feel i should be compensated for my time of driving to the clinic completing my screening only to be turned away due to system going down now i have to repeat this process again tomorrow loyal doner

One of the reasons I stopped coming to this location is because most of the staff are rude and very…read moreunprofessional. You are kept waiting A LOT longer than needed to be!