Blood drive, with antibody testing for donors
Thursday, June 18, 2020
Community Hospital has blood drives scheduled in Monterey in July and all blood donations will be tested for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
A positive test result generally means you had a past infection with SARS-CoV-2, or possibly a related coronavirus. While that does not mean you are immune to COVID-19, it does mean you may be eligible to donate plasma and help people who are still recovering from coronavirus infection. Eventually, antibody tests and clinical follow-up will provide more information on whether a person who has recovered from COVID-19 is immune to the virus and for how long.
The antibody tests are part of a full panel of tests that Vitalant, Community Hospital’s blood-supply partner, performs on successful blood donations. Donors will receive their results about two weeks after their donation. Please note that the antibody test does not diagnose a current coronavirus infection. People who are ill should not donate; find other donor requirements at www.vitalant.org.
Upcoming blood drives
Hartnell Professional Center, 576 Hartnell Street, Monterey
- Thursday, July 2 and Friday, July 3, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Monday, July 20, from 2-6 p.m.
Additional blood drives are being held in July Del Rey Oaks.
Register for an appointment at blood4life.org
Information about antibody testing
