COVID-19 Antibody Testing

The coronavirus antibody (SARS-CoV-2) test is authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and will indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to the coronavirus, regardless of whether they ever showed symptoms.

SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease. SARS-CoV-2 stands for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2

Viruses, and the diseases they cause, often have different names. People often know the name of a disease, but not the name of the virus that causes the disease. Viruses are names based on their genetic structure to facilitate the development of diagnostic tests, vaccines and medicines. Diseases are named to enable discussion on disease prevention, spread, transmissibility, severity and treatment.

Appointments are encouraged, but are not required to donate. Click here to find a OneBlood donor center or Big Red Bus location.

Effective May 18, 2020 OneBlood began testing all successful blood donations for the COVID-19 antibody.

OneBlood will be providing COVID-19 antibody testing on all successful donations for the foreseeable future.

Yes. The COVID-19 antibody test is performed every time a donor has a successful whole blood, platelet, plasma or double red blood cell donation. In addition, all COVID-19 convalescent plasma donations are tested for the coronavirus antibody. The COVID-19 antibody test is performed in addition to the standard infectious disease and cholesterol testing all blood donations receive.

Yes. The COVID-19 antibody test is performed every time a donor has a successful whole blood, platelet, plasma, or double red blood cell donation. In addition, all COVID-19 convalescent plasma donations are tested for the coronavirus antibody. The COVID-19 antibody test is performed in addition to the standard infectious disease and cholesterol testing all blood donations receive.

• Donors will receive their COVID-19 antibody test results through their donor portal.
• Donor results will be available in the donor portal within ten days after donating
• To create and activate your online donor account:
  • Provide a valid email to your phlebotomist at the time of registration.
  • Wait to receive your “thank you” account activation email from OneBlood.
  • Click on “activate my account” and use the same email that you gave at registration.
  • If you already have an account you can login with your existing username and password.

No. The antibody test cannot tell if a person is currently sick with COVID-19, it only shows if a person has antibodies that likely resulted from a recent COVID-19 infection.

If a donor tests positive for the coronavirus antibody and never had symptoms of COVID-19, this is known as having an asymptomatic infection, which is an infection without symptoms.

No. The coronavirus antibody test is not the same as a COVID-19 diagnostic test. The antibody test will indicate if the blood contains antibodies to the virus. The test does not check for the presence of a current COVID-19 infection.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) it is unclear if the coronavirus antibody can provide protection (immunity) against getting infected again with COVID-19 and there is a chance that you might have antibodies from an infection with a different virus from the same family of coronaviruses.

No. The antibody tests should not be used to diagnose someone as being currently sick with COVID-19. To determine a current infection, people need a viral test, which checks respiratory samples, such as a swab from inside their nose. To receive a viral test, people need to contact their health care provider or visit a testing location near them. Donors who are not “feeing well” are not eligible to donate. If you think you currently have COVID-19 you should consult with your health care provider and should not visit a OneBlood donation location.

No. The coronavirus antibody is not harmful to you. In fact, it has special lifesaving potential. Studies have shown that by transfusing the plasma from a person who has recovered from COVID-19, into a patient still fighting the disease, it can help boost the patient’s immune system and potentially help them recover. The treatment is known as, COVID-19 convalescent plasma.

Plasma derived from donations that test positive for the coronavirus antibody will likely be designated as convalescent plasma.

OneBlood uses the Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Vitros® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Total Test and the Roche Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2.

On September 2, 2020 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the agency that regulates all blood centers in the United States, provided guidance to blood centers regarding revised donor eligibility criteria for convalescent plasma donations. Part of the guidance includes an additional antibody test. If all the antibody tests are positive it means you likely developed COVID-19 at some point in your past and your immune system has now produced antibodies to the coronavirus. Only donors who test positive on all antibody tests may be eligible to be COVID-19 convalescent plasma donors.

• Antibody-producing cells may shut down over time when our body determines that an immune response is no longer needed. As a result, some donors who had COVID-19 who initially tested positive for antibodies may test negative at a later donation. It is not currently known how along antibodies will be present after having COVID-19.
• Although uncommon, the first test could have produced a false-positive due to a number of medical conditions, including the common cold.
• If you want confirmation of your current antibody status, it is recommended that you follow up with your health care provider.

Yes! Only donors who test positive on all antibody tests may be eligible to be COVID-19 convalescent plasma donors. We encourage you to please consider becoming a convalescent plasma donor with OneBlood. Appointments are required. Simply call our convalescent plasma concierge line at 407-858-4939 to schedule your donation.

COVID-19 convalescent plasma is a treatment that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given emergency use authorization in treating COVID-19 patients. With no cure or FDA approved vaccine to prevent the coronavirus, doctors are turning to convalescent plasma to help treat COVID-19 patients. OneBlood began collecting and distributing COVID-19 convalescent plasma in April 2020.