What to know about the Coronavirus and Blood Donation

The top priority of the Red Cross is the safety of our donors, volunteers, employees and blood recipients, and we are committed to transparency with the American public during this evolving public health emergency. There are no data or evidence that this coronavirus can be transmissible by blood transfusion, and there have been no reported cases worldwide of transmissions for any respiratory virus including this coronavirus.

The Red Cross only collects blood from individuals who are healthy and feeling well at the time of donation – and who meet other eligibility requirements.

At each blood drive or donation center, Red Cross employees follow thorough safety protocols, including:
 

• Wearing gloves and changing them often
  
• Wiping down donor-touched areas after every collection
• Using sterile collection sets for every donation
• Preparing the arm for donation with aseptic scrub
• Conducting donor mini-physicals to ensure donors are healthy and well on day of donation 
  

We have also increased our vigilance concerning some of these safety protocols including: 
 

• Enhanced disinfecting of surfaces and equipment  
• Providing hand sanitizer for use before entering and throughout the donation appointment 
• Following social distancing practices between donors including donor beds, as well as waiting and refreshment areas
• During this time, blankets typically used by platelet, Power Red and AB Elite donors at Red Cross blood donation centers will be laundered after each use, which may limit the availability. Donors are encouraged to bring their own blankets, but electric blankets and heating pads are not permitted.
• The Red Cross follows a high standard of safety and infection control. For the safety of our donors and staff, the Red Cross requires all those at blood drives and blood donation centers wear a face mask regardless of their vaccination status. Valve face masks are not permitted. Face shields can be worn in addition to face masks but not as a substitute.

To ensure our staff are healthy each day, we have implemented standard staff health assessments prior to all blood drives.  

Finally, only eligible and healthy people are allowed to give blood.  

These mitigation measures will help ensure blood recipient safety, as well as staff and donor safety in reducing contact with those who may potentially have this respiratory infection.

Book your next donation appointment for the days and weeks ahead to help ensure a sufficient blood supply for patients in need.

The American Red Cross has resumed testing all donations for COVID-19 antibodies, for a limited time. Plasma from routine donations with high levels of COVID-19 antibodies that also meet other U.S. Food and Drug Administration criteria may be used to treat immunocompromised patients battling COVID-19.

In recent months, COVID-19 has surged to new heights – overwhelming hospitals with critically ill patients battling the virus. This new surge combined with new clinical trial data showing that patients who are immunocompromised may benefit from COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) is helping drive renewed hospital demand for this blood product.

To help meet the needs of these patients, the Red Cross resumed testing all blood donations made on or after March 7, 2022, for COVID-19 antibodies to identify potential units that can be manufactured into CCP. Additionally, we hope that by testing all blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies, we may provide our valued donors insight into their own COVID-19 antibody status. The Red Cross is not recruiting donors specifically for apheresis convalescent plasma donation. 

The Red Cross is committed to building a readily available inventory of convalescent plasma to ensure COVID-19 patients with weakened immune systems have all treatment options available to them.

If you have further eligibility questions, please call 1-800-RED CROSS.

The American Red Cross has implemented new blood donation deferrals out of an abundance of caution. We are now asking that individuals postpone their donation for 10 days following:
 

• Diagnosis of COVID-19
• You have had a positive diagnostic test for COVID-19 or you have had any symptoms of COVID-19

As the situation evolves, the Red Cross will continue to evaluate all emerging risks in collaboration with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and industry partners to determine if additional intervention strategies are needed. Together, we stand ready to keep the American public informed and prepared.

If you are feeling healthy, please book a donation appointment now.

There are common sense steps we can all take to prevent the spread of any respiratory virus:
 

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and throw the tissue away after use. If a tissue isn’t available, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.
• Disinfect doorknobs, switches, handles, computers, telephones, bedside tables, bathroom sinks, toilets, counters, toys and other surfaces that are commonly touched around the home or workplace.
  

• Sign up to receive information about COVID-19 and blood donations.
  
• For the latest information, please visit the CDC website and Ready.Gov.
• If you live outside the United States, health and safety tips can be found through the World Health Organization.