MISSOULA — The American Red Cross is beginning to test all blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies.
There also continues to be an urgent need for blood donations as hospitals resume surgeries and treatments that require blood products.
Antibody testing will indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether they developed symptoms.
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.
A positive antibody test result does not confirm infection or immunity.
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.
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.
To protect the health and safety of Red Cross staff and donors, individuals who do not feel well or who believe they may be ill with COVID-19 should postpone their donation.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities, June 15-30:
Flathead
Kalispell
- 6/19/2020: 12 p.m. - 4:15 p.m., Kalispell Center Mall, Center Street
- 6/22/2020: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., TroyStrong Kalispell, 126 North Meridian
- 6/26/2020: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Flathead County Health Department, 1035 1st Ave West
Lakeside
- 6/16/2020: 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Lakeside QRU Community Hall, 201 Bills Road
Marion
- 6/25/2020: 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., Marion Community Hall, 180 Gopher Lane
West Glacier
- 6/24/2020: 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., Glacier National Park Community Building, GNP Headquarters, 162 Mather Drive
Whitefish
- 6/30/2020: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Olney-Bissell School, 5955 Farm to Market Rd
Lake
Polson
- 6/17/2020: 11 a.m. - 4:15 p.m., St Joseph Medical Center, 6 13th Ave East
Missoula
Bonner
- 6/15/2020: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Potomac Greenough Community Center, 29827 Potomac Road
Missoula
- 6/16/2020: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Missoula Stake, 3201 Bancroft St.
- 6/25/2020: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., University of Montana Continuing Ed Building, The University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive
- 6/25/2020: 12 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., TroyStrong Blood Drive at Missoula Red Cross Donation Center, 2401 N. Reserve St. Suite 6
- 6/26/2020: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Southgate Mall, 2901 Brooks
- 6/30/2020: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Consumer Direct Care Network, 100 Consumer Direct Way
Ravalli
Hamilton
- 6/30/2020: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Ravalli County Fairgrounds, 100 Old Corvallis Road
Stevensville
- 6/22/2020: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Stevensville Fire Department, 150 Kinsman Drive
