The American Red Cross is now testing all blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies, according to a news release.
Upcoming blood drives in this area will be at Cabelas, 10300 Cabela Drive, Kansas City, Kansas, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 24.
There continues to be an urgent need for blood donations as hospitals have resumed surgeries and treatments that require blood products, according to a Red Cross spokesman.
Donors now can learn whether they have been exposed to COVID-19. Antibody testing will show if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether they developed symptoms, according to the news release.
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, the spokesman stated. A positive antibody test result does not confirm infection or immunity, according to the Red Cross.
COVID-19 antibody test results will be available within 7-10 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.
“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.
Donation appointments can be made by downloading the free Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
Thanks to Amazon, all those who come to give June 1-30 will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email, according to the Red Cross.
Other blood drives are scheduled in Johnson County and in Kansas City, Missouri. To see a list of other sites where blood may be donated, visit RedCrossBlood.org.