Red Cross Now Testing All Blood Donations for COVID-19 Antibodies
Written by admin on June 15, 2020
Urgent need for blood donors to help prevent summer shortage
5 Amazon.com Gift Card for all who come to give in June
COLUMBUS, Ohio (June 15, 2020) — Beginning today and for a limited time, the American Red Cross is testing all blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies, providing donors insight into whether they have been exposed to this coronavirus. At the same time, there continues to be an urgent need for blood donations as hospitals resume surgeries and treatments that require blood products.
Antibody testing will indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether they developed symptoms. Donations will be tested using samples pulled at the time of donation and sent to a testing laboratory where they will also undergo routine infectious disease testing. A positive antibody test result does not confirm infection or immunity.
COVID-19 antibody test results will be available within 7-10 days in the Red Cross Blood Donor App or donor portal at http://RedCrossBlood.org. The test has been authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
“As an organization dedicated to helping others, the Red Cross is pleased to provide more information about COVID-19 to our valued donors,” said Dr. Erin Goodhue, executive medical director of direct patient care with the Red Cross Biomedical Services. “If you are feeling healthy and well, please schedule an appointment to not only help saves lives but also learn about your potential exposure to COVID-19.”
The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test.
Blood is needed every day to treat patients with a variety of urgent and routine medical care. The Red Cross supports patients at nearly 3,000 hospitals nationwide and 40 hospitals in Central Ohio.
There are two upcoming blood drives in Hardin County:
.June 22 in Kenton from noon until 6 at First Baptist Church on County Road 175.
.June 25 from 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. at McVitty Memorial VFW Post 1182, 204 West Lima Street in Forest.
