LOUISVILLE, Ky. — If you’re curious to find out if you've had COVID-19, Kentucky Blood Center is giving free antibody testing for the virus until Jan. 31, 2021 for anyone who donates.
What You Need To Know
- Kentucky Blood Center offers COVID-19 antibody tests to all donors
- Donors who test positive for the antibodies may be asked to return for a plasma donation
- Blood and convalescent plasma are in steep demand
- Donation of convalescent plasma can help up to four patients with COVID-19
Both blood and convalescent plasma are desperately needed right now according to Brooke Nevius, who handles marketing & communications for the blood bank.
“People are concerned about coming in because of COVID. Of course, we are regulated by the FDA and the CDC so we have all kinds of procedures that we are utilizing to protect our donors,” Nevius told Spectrum News 1.
Nevius said the time between Christmas and New Years is a slow time for Kentucky Blood Center. Add the pandemic, and blood donations are down all around.
However, just because donations have slowed down doesn’t mean the need has. Besides blood, Kentucky Blood Center also needs donors who've had COVID-19.
That’s because their blood may have antibodies to the virus so the blood can be processed into convalescent plasma. When that plasma is given to people with COVID-19, it helps boost their ability to fight the virus.
“As of last week, I believe only patients that were in intensive care were getting the convalescent plasma because we were really working to get more,” Nevius said.
Every donor at Kentucky Blood Center gets a free antibody test to see if they've had COVID-19 — blood donors who end up testing positive for the antibodies may be asked to come back and donate plasma.
“So many people come in here; they have no idea they’ve had COVID. They may be felt that they had a sinus infection, they had a wet cough that didn’t go away for two weeks and they test positive,” Nevius said.
All donations stay in Kentucky and go to more than 70 hospitals in the Commonwealth. Nevius said every donation of convalescent plasma helps up to four patients with COVID-19, and every blood donation can save up to three lives.
Nevius asked for anybody who is able to come and donate.
“What better gift could you give during the holidays the gift of life?”
To help boost supply of convalescent plasma before the donation slow season hits, the Kentucky Blood Center is hosting a convalescent plasma only drive on Thursday, Dec. 10 at 5406 Antle Dr., Louisville, KY 40229. To register apply here.
Otherwise, you can donate blood at any of Kentucky Blood Center’s six locations. More info here.