OneBlood is testing all donations for the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) antibody.
The COVID-19 antibody test will help identify whether a person is likely to have experienced COVID-19, regardless of whether they ever showed symptoms. People who have developed the coronavirus antibody may be eligible to be COVID-19 convalescent plasma donors.
The antibody test does not indicate if a person has a current COVID-19 infection.
If you suspect you may have COVID-19 please contact your health care provider and do not attempt to donate blood until you are feeling well and are at least 14 days symptom free.
Make AppointmentThe 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.
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.
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.
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.
Your Covid-19 antibody test results along with all your wellness information will be available in the donor portal within ten days after your donation. Creating and activating your account is as easy as 1-2-3.
If you already have an account all you need to do is login using your email and password.
Please note, a positive COVID-19 antibody test does not mean you are immune from COVID-19. A positive test result indicates that the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to fight the coronavirus. The antibodies are not harmful to you and it is not harmful if transfused to a patient. In fact, it has special lifesaving potential.