BioLife abruptly closes Laramie and Casper plasma centers on Feb. 3

Donors and employees in Laramie and Casper were blindsided when BioLife Plasma Services permanently closed both donation centers on Feb. 3, posting banner notices on its website and app that left regular donors with canceled appointments and, in some cases, locked doors. The sudden move affects two of BioLife’s three Wyoming locations; the Cheyenne center remains open.

BioLife Media Relations framed the decision as part of a national restructuring, saying the company “is a trusted leader in the collection of plasma required to produce lifesaving and life-sustaining medicines for people with a variety of serious health conditions.” The company added that “there’s a growing demand in the U.S. and around the world for these medicines, which makes it extremely important for BioLife to optimize our network of plasma donation centers,” and that it “examined its entire network of 235 centers across the country and made the decision to close the centers in Casper and Laramie.” BioLife did not provide a specific local reason beyond that explanation.

Local reactions centered on disruption and economic impact. Longtime donor Andy Tholl of Casper, who has given plasma intermittently for 22 years, described his history with donations: “I’ve been doing it consistently for about five years, but off and on since I was 18, so 22 years.” Plasma donation can be an important source of supplemental income for some residents; payment promotions can bring donors as much as $500 or more per month, and BioLife has offered $150 bonuses for each new client referral. Those income streams now require donors to find alternate sites or pause participation.

Communication around the closures was limited. Many donors reported learning about the shutdown when appointments disappeared from the app or when they arrived to find doors locked. Messages to the now-former managers of both Casper and Laramie centers were not returned, and the Cheyenne manager declined to elaborate, saying employees were told by the company not to comment.

The abrupt closures echo similar sudden shutdowns elsewhere that have stirred debate about the stability and planning of plasma-collection operators. Local community leaders have signaled they will monitor the situation closely for any knock-on effects on regional plasma supplies and on residents who rely on donation income.

What comes next for Albany County donors and workers remains unclear. BioLife’s statement points to a national optimization process, but the company has not shared details about employee relocation, severance, direct donor notification methods, or measures to prevent gaps in plasma collection for medicine production. For now, donors who relied on the Casper and Laramie centers must seek alternatives such as the Cheyenne location or other out-of-area centers, while county officials and community groups assess how to help affected households and whether the closures will impact local access to plasma-derived therapies.