Staff reports
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 the coronavirus.
At the same time, there continues to be an urgent need for blood as hospitals resume surgeries and treatments that require blood products.
The next blood drive in Jackson County will be from noon to 6 p.m. July 6 at Cornerstone Community Church, 1088 Sarasota Drive, Seymour.
Antibody testing will indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to the 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 seven to 10 days in the Red Cross Blood Donor App or donor portal at redcrossblood.org. The test has been authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test.
Appointments can be made by downloading the free Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org, calling 800-733-2767 or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. All those who come to give blood in June will receive a $5 amazon.com gift card via email.
To protect the health and safety of staff and donors, individuals who do not feel well or who believe they may be ill with COVID-19 should postpone their donation.
Each blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions, including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff, have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance.
Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.
All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.
Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their predonation reading and health history questionnaire online on the day of their donation before arriving at the blood drive.