Blood Drive

Date: Friday, March 12

Time: 2:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Location: Conference Room

Target: 40 donors

One heartwarming gesture deserves another:
As a thank-you for helping ensure a stable blood supply, those who come to give this February will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email, courtesy of Amazon. (Restrictions apply. Additional information and details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Together.)

Covid-19 Antibodies test included with donation:
Important COVID-19 information for donors The American Red Cross Kentucky Region has received a $30,000 donation from Merrill Lynch to support COVID-19 antibody testing for blood, platelet and plasma donations. By offering these antibody tests, the Red Cross hopes to not only provide valuable public health information, but also identify those who have COVID-19 antibodies to help tackle the national convalescent plasma shortage. “With the generous support of Merrill Lynch, the Red Cross is able to continue to play a critical role in the fight against coronavirus,” said Cyndi Dahl, regional donor services executive for the Red Cross Kentucky Region.

The COVID-19 antibody test may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether an individual developed COVID-19 symptoms. Red Cross antibody tests will be helpful to identify individuals who have COVID-19 antibodies and may now help current coronavirus patients in need of convalescent plasma transfusions. Convalescent plasma is a type of blood donation collected from COVID-19 survivors that have antibodies that may help patients who are actively fighting the virus. Plasma from whole blood donations that test positive for COVID-19 antibodies may be used to help COVID-19 patients.

COVID-19 antibody test results will be available within one to two weeks in the Red Cross Blood Donor App or donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org. A positive antibody test result does not confirm infection or immunity. The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test. To protect the health and safety of Red Cross staff and donors, it is important that individuals who do not feel well or believe they may be ill with COVID-19 postpone donation.

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance