The American Red Cross is now testing all blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies.
The Red Cross says the antibody test used is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and may indicate if a 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 laboratory where they will 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 a week 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.
Several blood drives are planned in the region over the next two weeks:
Manhattan
6/21/2020: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 621 Humboldt
6/25/2020: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Pottorf Hall, Pottorf Hall – Cico Park
6/26/2020: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Pottorf Hall, Pottorf Hall – Cico Park
Junction City
6/30/2020: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Junction City Municipal Building, 700 N Jefferson
