Needed blood donations not only help others, but give you COVID-19 antibody results

With regions re-opening for medical treatments and elective surgeries put on hold due to COVID-19, the need for blood has increased by 25 percent compared to recent weeks. Blood donors are needed to help people through procedures previously delayed, including heart surgeries, cancer treatments, and organ/marrow transplants. Some needs never change including blood for massive trauma, childbirth complications, and emergency surgeries.

All blood types and blood components are needed for patient care now.

Starting June 1, your blood donation delivers double the good when you save lives and learn your COVID-19 antibody status, which is especially important given the critical shortage of blood as hospitals have increased surgeries and other procedures.

As the pandemic has unfolded, and for those who fell ill with symptoms from COVID-19 but were not able to be tested, this new information could be useful as you move forward with work, school and daily activities. Antibody tests are used to tell if someone had a past infection with SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

To schedule a donation appointment, visit Vitalant at https://www.vitalant.org/Home.aspx. The nearest locations are in Reno and Carson City as community blood drives have been postponed.

This testing, however, does not indicate whether the antibodies neutralize the virus and protect against reinfection.

Over time, antibody tests and clinical follow-up will provide the medical community with more information on whether a person who has recovered from COVID-19 is immune to the virus and for how long. While a positive antibody test does not mean that someone is immune to COVID-19, it does mean that donors with COVID-19 antibodies may be considered for convalescent plasma donation to help those whose lives are threatened by COVID-19.