Tyson Brimberry is the manager of the BioLife center in Worcester’s physical plasma center. He said that plasma donations benefit those in need and help the community.
Brimberry stated, “we build a relationship with donors who come in, allowing us to get to know them individually.” They come in, they save lives, and it’s a beautiful process that helps not only individuals but also the community.
Brimberry stated that 150 people have signed up to donate plasma in advance of BioLife’s Saturday opening.
BioLife Plasma Services is opening a new plasma center in Worcester, Massachusetts, to meet the growing demand for plasma-based therapies.
Plasma
Plasma cannot be made in a laboratory. This means that plasma must be obtained from human donors. Takeda uses plasma from BioLife to treat rare and chronic diseases such as angioedema or immunodeficiency disorder, which often have no other treatments.
The center’s nurses screen donors to ensure they are healthy enough to donate plasma. Afterward, donors are connected to a needle in a similar process to blood donation. Plasma donation can be made twice per week by donors. Blood donation requires that donors wait eight weeks before donating plasma.
Brimberry stated that Worcester was chosen as the first Massachusetts location for the company. It’s close to Takeda, a global Biopharmaceutical company, and offers central access to the Northeast.
Brimberry stated that BioLife was a good fit because of all the exciting things happening in Worcester. “The demand for plasma medicine is increasing, and it was an excellent opportunity to open a center in Worcester to address the need.
Brimberry has been with BioLife for seven years and said that the Worcester center would contribute between $2 million and $3 million annually to the community via donor compensation. Brimberry stated that BioLife currently operates more than 160 plasma donation centers in the United States. Each center costs between $3 million to $6 million to build.
Brimberry stated that the Worcester center employs approximately 30 people and that there will be at most 50 by the time it is fully operational. The center trained and hired staff this summer and is now hiring entry-level positions, including receptionists and phlebotomists.
The center can be found at 68 Stafford St., and it opens on Saturday. To register to donate plasma, individuals can either sign up on the BioLife app or website. Or they can visit the center to speak with a team member. You can also find compensation rates at the center and on the website.
To be eligible, donors must undergo a physical exam on their first visit. They are also screened at every stop.
Brimberry stated that this project took a lot of dedication and hard work. He also mentioned that he had a great team who helped him open the facility. “As of Saturday, we have 150 people scheduled, so the Worcester community has stepped in, and we’re thrilled to see everyone.”