Free COVID-19 Antibodies Test With All Red Cross Donations

Do you wonder if you’ve had coronavirus? With many people asymptomatic, no one knows for sure without taking an antibody blood test. Here’s some good news — the American Red Cross is now testing all blood donations for antibodies at no charge.

Blood donations are tested using samples pulled at the time of donation and sent to a testing laboratory where they will also undergo routine infectious disease testing.

COVID-19 antibody test results will be available within one to two weeks in the Red Cross Blood Donor App or donor portal on the Red Cross website.

If it turns out that you have the COVID-19 antibodies, your blood donation may help current coronavirus patients in need of convalescent plasma transfusions.

“Donations that come back positive for COVID-19 antibodies now undergo secondary testing to confirm antibody results, and that enables the Red Cross to then potentially use the plasma from those donations for COVID-19 patients,” said Dr. Erin Goodhue, executive medical director of direct patient care with the Red Cross Biomedical Services. “With approximately 2% of the U.S. population testing positive for COVID-19 antibodies, every donation is important to ensure patients with coronavirus have access to every treatment option available to them.”

The Red Cross has been testing for the antibodies since April, but only at 170 designated donation locations across the country. As of Sept. 21, it’s all donations at all locations.

There’s a list of upcoming blood drives in the county listed below. Donors are encouraged to make an appointment to give blood or platelets because of social distancing rules. Only healthy people can give blood. Temperature checks are conducted on donors when they arrive, and you must wear a face mask.

The Red Cross is encouraging people to download the free Blood Donor App. The Red Cross is giving away $1,000 Amazon Gift Cards to five winners who donate blood in October.

The Red Cross cautions that a positive antibody test result “does not confirm infection or immunity.”

Here are upcoming blood drives in Contra Costa County:

Antioch
10/7/2020: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Rotary Club Antioch, 4800 Golf Course Rd

Bethel Island
10/1/2020: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Bethel Island Scout Hall, 3090 Ranch Ln

Brentwood
10/10/2020: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Brentwood, 2350 Jeffery Way

El Sobrante
10/2/2020: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, El Sobrante, 4351 Hilltop Dr

Pleasant Hill
9/29/2020: 12:15 p.m. – 7 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
9/30/2020: 12:15 p.m. – 7 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
10/1/2020: 11:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
10/2/2020: 7:45 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
10/3/2020: 7:45 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
10/4/2020: 7:45 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
10/5/2020: 7:45 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
10/6/2020: 12:15 p.m. – 7 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
10/7/2020: 12:15 p.m. – 7 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
10/8/2020: 11:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
10/9/2020: 7:45 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
10/10/2020: 7:45 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
10/11/2020: 7:45 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
10/12/2020: 7:45 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
10/13/2020: 12:15 p.m. – 7 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
10/14/2020: 12:15 p.m. – 7 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
10/15/2020: 11:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane