Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
FINAL DAYS: The American Red Cross is testing all donations for COVID-19 antibodies through June 3. Results may indicate an antibody response after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine or possible past exposure to this coronavirus – and may identify donations with antibody levels necessary to potentially help COVID-19 patients with a weakened immune system.
An antibody test screens for antibodies in your blood, which are formed when fighting an infection or in response to specific vaccination, like COVID-19. An antibody test assesses whether your immune system has responded to past infection or vaccination, not if the virus is currently present.
The COVID-19 antibody test used by the Red Cross is available through Emergency Use Authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Test results may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to COVID-19 following past infection, regardless of whether they developed symptoms, or following vaccination. Plasma from routine donations with high levels of COVID-19 antibodies that also meet other FDA criteria may be used to treat patients with a weakened immune system battling COVID-19.
Please note the Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, including COVID-19. If you feel unwell for any reason, please postpone your donation. Individuals who believe they may be ill with COVID-19 should not present to donate until they are symptom free for 10 days and feeling well and healthy.
The results of your antibody test will be available by logging in to your blood donor account on the Blood Donor App or online within one to two weeks after your donation. You can also find the results of your mini-physical, including temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate and hemoglobin levels. Antibody testing will be performed on all donations made March 7-June 3, 2022.
Log in to your donor account on RedCrossBlood.org or the Blood Donor App to see your test results.
Note: The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test, and a positive antibody test results do not confirm infection or immunity; a positive antibody test indicates potential prior exposure to the virus.
The Red Cross tests every blood donation for a variety of infections. All blood, platelet and plasma donations made March 7-June 3, 2022, will also be tested for COVID-19 antibodies.
Donations will be tested for COVID-19 antibodies using samples obtained at the time of donation and sent to a laboratory where samples will undergo routine screening and infectious disease testing.
Plasma from routine blood, platelet and plasma donations that test positive for high levels of COVID-19 antibodies may be used as convalescent plasma to meet potential needs of immunocompromised patients battling the virus. Whatever your antibody testing result, your blood donation is critical to helping save lives. Individuals with a Reactive or Reactive+ test result may be contacted by the Red Cross to request additional information and conduct further testing as part of a research study.
The Red Cross follows the highest standards 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 to 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. Please see our updated FAQs.
All blood drives follow social distancing guidelines, including spacing out donor beds, waiting and refreshment areas.
Increased sanitation protocols are in place including wiping down donor-touched areas after every collection and enhanced disinfecting of surfaces and equipment.
The Red Cross follows a high standard of safety and infection control. Learn our enhanced blood donation safety protocols »
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Your blood donation can help save a life. Please schedule an appointment to donate today.