BATON ROUGE, La. -- BioLife Plasma Services, part of the global biopharmaceutical company Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, today announced the opening of a new plasma collection center in Baton Rouge to collect standard plasma from healthy donors.
“Now, more than ever, donors in the Baton Rouge area have a unique opportunity to make a difference in the community through plasma donation, and we are deeply committed to making treatment options available for patients who rely on plasma-derived medications,” said Jason Kilpatrick, manager of the BioLife Plasma Services Baton Rouge center. “Plasma is a lifeline for thousands of people with rare, chronic and complex diseases, and we are excited to open the first BioLife plasma collection center in Louisiana.”
Through a simple, low-risk process called plasmapheresis, plasma is separated from the blood and the blood elements are returned back into the donor’s body. Screened plasma collected from healthy individuals is processed into a wide variety of therapeutics for people around the world with rare, life-threatening diseases, such as immunodeficiency disorders, hemophilia and hereditary angioedema.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, BioLife Plasma Services has implemented additional screening and safety measures in line with public health guidance to help guarantee the safety and health of donors and employees, as well as the safety of the collected plasma. All donors will need to wear a mask or other cloth face covering inside a BioLife Plasma center.
Prospective donors can make online appointments to visit the Baton Rouge center (11620 Coursey Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70816), which opens on Saturday, August 8. They must pass a physical examination at their first visit and are screened at each visit to ensure they meet eligibility criteria. All donors are compensated for their time and commitment.
The Baton Rouge center is approximately 14,000 square feet, and the state-of-the-art facility provides access to free Wi-Fi and a clean, professional, smoke-free environment. The new center is the first BioLife center to open in Louisiana and expects to bring more than 60 new jobs to the community.
To learn more about BioLife Plasma Services, the donation process, and to schedule an appointment, please visit the BioLife website.