Physician-led plasma exchange at our Mill Valley clinic — about 50 minutes from Napa without traffic.
655 Redwood Highway, Suite 370, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Patients from Napa Valley reach our Mill Valley clinic across the top of San Pablo Bay — through the Carneros, along Highway 37 and down US-101 into southern Marin. It is a scenic drive, and from the city of Napa a manageable one, though patients from up-valley towns like St. Helena and Calistoga should plan on a longer morning.
This page sets out what a visit looks like from Napa Valley: the usual route, how Highway 37 can affect your timing, what to expect at the clinic, and how you are likely to feel for the drive home.
Communities we see patients from
Napa · American Canyon · Yountville · St. Helena · Calistoga · Sonoma (Carneros)
Typical times without traffic. Check live conditions before you leave.
Highway 37 between Sears Point and Novato is the slowest stretch of the trip at peak times. A mid-morning appointment usually avoids the worst of it in both directions.
The usual route from Napa Valley across the top of the bay to Mill Valley crosses no toll bridges.
From St. Helena or Calistoga, the round trip plus about three hours at the clinic makes for most of a day. Many up-valley patients find it easiest to treat treatment days as protected days rather than fitting other commitments around them.
The procedure itself takes about two hours. Plan for about three hours at the clinic to allow for setup and wrap-up — plus your drive, about 50 minutes each way from Napa without traffic.
Hydrate well — about three liters of water a day for several days beforehand. Rest the night before, avoid alcohol that evening, and skip strenuous exercise or sauna. Eat a full meal before your session; this is not a fasting procedure.
Wear something with loose or short sleeves so the veins at your inner elbows are easy to reach. One arm is typically free during treatment, so bring something to read, a laptop or your phone. Your physician will review your full medication list with you before your first session.
If you take blood pressure medication in the morning, it is often recommended to hold it until after the procedure. Most other medications can be taken as normal — your physician will advise you specifically.
Leave the bandages on your arms for several hours. Beyond that there are no restrictions: you can drive, travel, eat and go about your day. Most patients feel the same as when they arrived; a small percentage feel a little tired.
Most patients come alone and drive themselves home. A companion is not required, but someone close to you is welcome to sit with you — and if you would rather not make the return trip alone, bringing a driver is entirely reasonable.
We are open Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm. A typical protocol involves four to six sessions, and your physician will design a plan specific to you. For a fuller walk-through, read What to Expect During Your First TPE Session.
Global Apheresis is led by Dr. Dobri Kiprov and Dr. Allen Green. Read more about our physicians and our published research.
Dr. Kiprov has practiced therapeutic apheresis in the Bay Area since the 1980s.
Every session at Global Apheresis is physician-led, with a nurse at your side throughout.
Our physicians publish and present research on plasma exchange, including a 2026 journal theme issue.
Plasma exchange protocols informed by the AMBAR trial for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease.
Learn More →Plasma exchange as part of a healthspan program, with biological age testing to follow markers over time.
Learn More →Removing circulating antibodies and inflammatory mediators in conditions such as myasthenia gravis.
Learn More →Plasma exchange to lower circulating environmental toxins, including PFAS “forever chemicals.”
Learn More →Long COVID, PANS/PANDAS and other persistent post-infectious conditions.
Learn More →From the city of Napa the drive is about 50 minutes without traffic, by way of Highway 121, Highway 37 and US-101 South. From St. Helena allow about 1 hour 10 minutes, and from Calistoga about 1 hour 20 minutes.
No. All treatment takes place at our clinic at 655 Redwood Highway, Suite 370, in Mill Valley, which serves patients from across the North Bay, including Napa Valley.
Highway 37 can be slow at peak commute times. We suggest checking traffic before you leave and, if your schedule allows, choosing a mid-morning appointment. If you are running late on the day, call us at (415) 928-1352.
There are no restrictions on driving or travel after a plasma exchange, and most patients feel the same as when they started the day. A small percentage feel a little tired. If you live up-valley and would prefer not to drive the longer return trip alone, you are welcome to bring someone with you.
Hydrate well — about three liters of water a day for several days beforehand — eat a full meal before you set out, and avoid alcohol the evening before. Wear something with loose or short sleeves so the veins at your inner elbows are easy to reach.
Global Apheresis
655 Redwood Highway, Suite 370
Mill Valley, CA 94941
Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm
Schedule a free discovery call with our physicians before you plan a trip. We will talk through your history and goals, and whether plasma exchange is appropriate for you.
Book a Free Discovery Call