(UNDATED) – Plasma from whole blood donations made
through the American Red Cross that test positive for COVID-19 antibodies may now help current coronavirus patients in need of convalescent plasma transfusions.
Donors are encouraged to make an appointment to give blood now to help ensure coronavirus patients and others who depend on transfusions have needed blood products this fall.
In April, the Red Cross began collecting COVID-19 convalescent plasma from previously diagnosed individuals, who could only give at one of approximately 170 Red Cross blood donation centers across the country. Convalescent plasma contains COVID-19 antibodies that may help the most critical patients actively fighting this virus. Now, whole blood donations made at any Red Cross blood drive or blood donation center could be helpful in this effort.
“Donations that come back positive for COVID-19 antibodies now undergo secondary testing to confirm antibody results, and that enables the Red Cross to then potentially use the plasma from those donations for COVID-19 patients,” said Rodney Wilson, communications manager for the Red Cross Indiana Ohio Region. “With approximately 2% of the U.S. population testing
positive for COVID-19 antibodies, every donation is important to ensure patients with coronavirus have access to every treatment option available to them.”
The Red Cross encourages eligible individuals to schedule an appointment, download the free Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
In thanks, the Red Cross is offering a $1,000 Amazon.com Gift Card to five lucky winners who come to give in October. Terms and conditions apply; visit rcblood.org/unite. Additionally, those who come to give by the end of September will receive a free haircut coupon by email to participating Sport Clips Haircuts locations. More information is available at
RedCrossBlood.org/Sport-Clips.
About antibody testing
Antibody testing may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether an individual experienced COVID-19 symptoms. Donations are tested using samples pulled at the time of donation and sent to a testing laboratory where they will also undergo routine infectious disease testing.
COVID-19 antibody test results will be available within one to two weeks in the Red Cross Blood Donor App or donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org. A positive antibody test result does not confirm infection or immunity. The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test.
Important COVID-19 information for donors
Each Red Cross 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.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities, Sept. 23-Oct. 15:
Lawrence County
Bedford
- 10/12/2020: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Hillcrest Christian Church, 1130 Hillcrest Road
Mitchell
- 9/28/2020: 3 p.m. – 8 p.m., Community Center, 101 Tom Green Drive
Martin County
Loogootee
- 10/8/2020: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Loogootee United Methodist Church, 208 W. Main Street
Shoals
- 10/7/2020: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Shoals Christian Church, 602 N. Main Street
Monroe County
Bloomington
- 9/23/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.
- 9/26/2020: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.
- 9/29/2020: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monroe Convention Center, 302 S College Ave
- 9/30/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.
- 10/3/2020: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.
- 10/10/2020: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.
- 10/13/2020: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Sherwood Oaks Christian Church, 2700 E. Rogers Road
- 10/15/2020: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 221 E. 6th Street
Bartholomew County
Columbus
- 9/25/2020: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Developmental Services Inc., 2920 10th Street
- 10/1/2020: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., First United Methodist Church Columbus, 618 8th Street
Greene County
Bloomfield
- 10/15/2020: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Cincinnati Christian Church, 11432 SR 54 East
Delaware County
Muncie
- 9/30/2020: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., The Gathering, 9512 N Walnut St
Hamilton County
Fishers
- 9/25/2020: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Harley-Davidson of Indianapolis, 12400 Reynolds Drive
Hancock County
Fortville
- 10/5/2020: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Mercy Road Church Northeast, 611 Vitality Drive
Greenfield
- 10/13/2020: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Park Chapel Christian Church, 1176 E McKenzie Rd
Hendricks County
Brownsburg
- 9/23/2020: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Connection Pointe Christian Church, 1800 North Green Street
Henry County
New Castle
- 10/9/2020: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., First Baptist Church New Castle, 709 S Memorial Drive
Madison County
Anderson
- 9/29/2020: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Anderson University – OLT Student Center, 1215 University Blvd.
- 10/6/2020: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Parkview Church of the Nazarene, 911 S Rangeline Rd Pendleton
- 9/24/2020: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., First United Methodist Church Pendleton, 225 West State Street
Marion County
Indianapolis
- 9/23/2020: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., American Red Cross, 1510 North Meridian
- 9/26/2020: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Benjamin Harrison YMCA, 5736 Lee Road
- 9/28/2020: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Riviera Club, 5640 N Illinois St
- 9/30/2020: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Common Ground Christian Church, 7440 Hague Road
- 10/1/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., North Willow Farms, 1635 Brewster Road
- 10/3/2020: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Suburban Baptist Church, 722 East County Line Road
- 10/7/2020: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., American Red Cross, 1510 North Meridian
- 10/11/2020: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 7243 East 10th Street
- 10/14/2020: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., American Red Cross, 1510 North Meridian
- 10/14/2020: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., American Legion Post 500, 1926 Georgetown Road
- 10/15/2020: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Indiana University School of Dentistry, 1121 West Michigan Street
Putnam County
Coatesville
- 10/6/2020: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Heritage Lake Clubhouse, 1000 Clubhouse Road
Jennings County
North Vernon
- 10/6/2020: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Ascension St. Vincent – Jennings Hospital, 301 Henry Street
Johnson County
Edinburgh
- 10/3/2020: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Edinburgh Apostolic Tabernacle, 701 South Main Street
Greenwood
- 10/9/2020: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Carefree Club, 1202 Leisure Lane
- 10/13/2020: 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Johnson County Library White River Branch, 1664 Library Blvd.
Trafalgar
- 10/12/2020: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Johnson County Public Library, 424 S. Tower Street
Vigo County
Terre Haute
- 9/24/2020: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., American Legion Post 104, 2690 Fort Harrison Rd
- 10/10/2020: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Saint Joseph University Parish, 113 S 5th St
About blood donation
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 years of age 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 pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
