Vitalant says it is now testing all blood donations for antibodies to COVID-19.
The test, which is approved by the Food and Drug Administration, indicates to donors whether their immune system has produced antibodies to the virus, regardless of if donors ever showed symptoms.'
This information will be made available to donors after a successful donation on the confidential page with their other donor information online. "Their cholesterol, temperature and blood pressure and added to those results will be your antibody test, and it will let you know if you are positive or negative for the COVID-19 antibody," says Mitzi Breaux, the Communications and Marketing Director for Vitalant.
For those itching to find out if they have felt healthy all along because they have the COVID-19 antibodies, this is a good way to find out while helping others in the process.
"Hospitals are rescheduling all of those elective surgeries and people are moving around more so more accidents are happening and the blood use and need in our hospitals has increased 25 percent in previous weeks which has put us in a critical need for all blood types," adds Breaux.
Vitalant is not a COVID-19 testing site and you are asked to come in only if you feel healthy and are wearing a mask.
Donations of all blood types are critically needed right now, with an especially high need for type O, A-negative and B-negative red blood cells. Platelets are also needed.
Donors are urged to give blood as soon as possible. Appointments are strongly recommended: visit vitalant.org or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825).
The Vitalant donation center is located at 1503 Bertrand Drive in Lafayette.
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