I started donating plasma here about a year ago to get a little extra cash while I read a good book or two. I've found that I enjoy it more than I anticipated. Their pay to donors has increased, the games they have for us are fun (and sometimes give a little extra cash), and I feel that I'm part of the GCAM community. I've gotten to know the employees and feel happy to see them when I come in. I hadn't anticipated that and it makes the donation process enjoyable. Environment: Very clean. Decorated for holidays. Friendly staff and donors. Donors are spaced about 10 feet apart- close enough that you could have a brief conversation with a friend close by; far away enough for some privacy- though everyone is in full view of each other. They often have movies playing. If you want to get some good reading time in, I've found it useful to bring earplugs. Most donors seem to be on their headphones. Donation Process: The entire donation process, for me, usually takes about an hour and 30 to an hour and 45 minutes- rarely it has been as short as an hour and 15 minutes or as long as two hours, depending on how busy they are. If it is your first time donating, I believe they like you to set up an appointment for your first appointment and make sure you have the right forms of identification and it takes longer because of a non-invasive medical exam (lots of questions). As you enter, you sign in and then wait to have some basic vitals taken. After that, you are taken into a private booth for blood pressure and temperature check as well as some rapid fire health screening questions. (I've made the mistake twice of drinking cold water before they take my temp and came back with a low temperature. I had to wait for 15 minutes before they could recheck and then was able to proceed to the donation). After finishing you health screening, you are invited onto the donor floor where you have a short wait (usually less than 5 minutes) and then are asked, when a phlebotomist is ready for you, which arm you'd like to use. I elect to switch arms each donation, but I know there are others who always use the same arm. Sometimes I feel a slight prick with the needle entry, but it soon fades. I don't think it hurts as bad as the finger poke they do during the health screening. I have a pretty low pain threshold (I'm a bit of a wimp, but not afraid of needles), but it is not an issue at all for me. The donation process takes out a portion of your blood, spins it though a centrifuge, and then returns the non-plasma portion of your blood. This process cycles (5 times usually for me) until they have their desired amount of plasma (usually 800 mL, based on weight). This can be as low as 30 minutes for faster donors, up to around 45+(?) for others. I think I'm usually around 40 minutes. Occasionally, they may have trainees who help with part of the setup process, but everyone has been good. I have pretty large veins on my right arm, so that hasn't ever been an issue. On my left arm, I've had my vein missed twice and they had to re-insert the needle, but I didn't have any bruising. And I consider the phlebotomist who missed to be very competent, so I assume that will just happen occasionally. After that, you are given a payment voucher, and checkout at a window on the donor floor. As to scarring, I have a small dot on each arm, which I don't consider to be very noticable. I have friends who have stopped donating for a while and said their mark was hard to see anymore. That doesn't seem to be a long term issue. Compensation: I've noticed that pay isn't posted online. For our location in Twin Falls, Idaho, they are currently paying $25 for the first donation in a week and $45 for the second donation. If you have a friend who donates, make sure you get a referral card from them before you donate the first time. It gets you a little extra $. And it gets them a lot more. Money is transferred onto a debit card for the donor very quickly (within an hour, maybe faster?? but definitely same day), but I just transfer the money to my own checking account. They know longer have fees for bank transfers either. Of course, I'm sure all of this is subject to change (compensation has increased since I started). In summer time, they give an extra $5 per donation to teachers. They also have raffles and games that can pay extra. Overall, I've been surprised to find that I have enjoyed the experience more than I anticipated, the compensation has been better than I expected, and I've been able to read more than I used to (finished Les Miserables this year with much of the latter portion read at GCAM while donating). read more

I had my first donation about a week ago loved it staff are really nice they get you in and out relatively quickly and it is a clean and relaxing atmosphere I most definitely will continue to donate here read more

One star bc it won't let me give 0 what a joke I've been to this place three times now trying to donate and all three times they've got some excuse why they can't get me in every time they say when to come in and I do and every time they turn me away. This morning I go in they say come back after noon bc there will be more staff then so I do and I see five staff members huddled together talking to each other completely ignoring me for the first ten minutes I was waiting then when someone does come they meet me with attitude. They are always rude, definitely not professional at all. They can't get me in but there's not a single person in the waiting room and all the staff is standing around doing nothing it seemed apparent the staff decided they didn't want to work anymore, after all it's after noon already that's good enough for the day right just stand around and ignore everyone that comes in for the next 7 hours and we're good. Can't believe the utter lack of respect and total laziness of entire staff at this location. I actually had to ask if I was in a plasma donation center or not guess they don't really need donors as bad as they say they do on their ads this time they said come back next month like WTF if this is how they treat new donors how do they treat regulars? HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME read more

Loved it! Had my first plasma donation today, and everyone treated me really well! Couldn't have hoped for anything better. Thank you :)

I am so grateful for the opportunity to give back by donating life saving plasma and also to see the staff doing a big "Meeting Needs" drive for the charity Volunteers Against Violence shelter!! I love this place....come join the GCAM donor family!!! read more

I have been coming to the GCAM Plasma Center since May and I have had the best experiences with the staff! The first time to give plasma is a little scary, but the staff put me right as ease. Since then, any question I have is answered with the upmost respect, even though they had probably heard the same question over and over. It has been a great experience because the this group of people! read more

I've been donating at GCAM for more than a year now. The staff has always been helpful and friendly and the atmosphere is relaxed! And I like how they make a point to learn to know the donors personally! read more

Not a happy donor. Website on Google not updated. Arrived at business an hour early. Website didnt state new donors need to make an appointment. Had to wait an hour and a half before getting checked in. Staff was rude. Wouldn't let me sign in. Felt very discouraged and frustrated. read more

I am a new donar and everytime i come in i am treated really well and the staff are always super friendly

I went to donate for the first time and the staff was really nice and i am scared of needles so they talked me through it thanks

After donating plasma at GCAM TF for almost 3 years, I have received nothing but friendliness, care, and professionalism from the staff. They have an inviting lobby, clean facility, and are constantly doing new incentives and games for donors to earn extra money or prizes. Donating at this center has helped me to afford gas, food, and even some of my bills through college and on. Thanks GCAM! read more