April blood drive to test for antibodies

A blood drive at Canyon Lake Golf & Country Club will take place April 11 and, for a limited time, the American Red Cross has resumed testing all blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies.

Plasma from routine donations that have high levels of COVID-19 antibodies may be used as convalescent plasma to help meet the needs of COVID-19 patients with weakened immune systems.

At the same time, the Red Cross blood supply remains vulnerable, and individuals are urged to schedule a blood or platelet donation. In the days and weeks ahead, it’s critically important the Red Cross maintains a readily-available blood supply so hospital patients can receive the care they need.

There are still appointment slots available for the Canyon Lake blood drive. Those appointments can be secured by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, by visiting the website, RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

The Canyon Lake blood drive will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the country club at the golf course. Those who attend the drive will receive a Red Cross T-shirt while supplies last.

The Red Cross first tested donations for COVID-19 antibodies earlier in the pandemic to provide convalescent plasma for patients. When infection rates decreased and new treatment options became available, the Red Cross discontinued the program.

With the surge of new variants, hospitals began to seek out more treatments for their most vulnerable patients, and new clinical trial data has shown that convalescent plasma may benefit immunocompromised patients. The Red Cross is resuming this program to ensure doctors have every tool available to support treatment.

Antibody testing will indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to COVID-19 following vaccination or infection, regardless of whether they developed symptoms. Donations will be tested using samples pulled at the time of the 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 one to two weeks after donation in the Red Cross Blood Donor App or donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org.

The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test.