Joined Nov 2005
L10: Grand Master
Forum Thread
FYI for RC blood donors - convalescent plasma donation now "automatic"
June 10, 2020 at
12:38 PM
Not sure who here is a habitual Red Cross blood donor, but this serves as an FYI for those interested.
Back in April when I had my last donation (I am O-, so they hound me for blood) the RC was not, as a matter of policy, testing blood for Covid antibodies, nor did they even care if you'd had it (so long as you had recovered and didn't have it currently). At that stage, they did have a convalescent plasma [medicalnewstoday.com] program (where people that had recovered from Covid could donate plasma (antibodies) which could be then transfused to those fighting the disease to help them), but you had to sign up for it and donate at special locations (e.g. none of the usual blood drives you could go to).
I got a call last night to schedule my next donation (every 3 months for whole blood) and I asked them about the CP donation (I had a (very good) antibody test and am positive); they told me that now all donations are antibody tested and then the plasma is separated. So, no need for a separate appointment/donation at a specific location - ALL blood/plasma is now considered for the CP program if it tests + for antibodies. I believe the website is still incorrect. (It had a form to fill out if you wanted to participate in CP and what started the conversation is that I had applied but never heard back)
Back in April when I had my last donation (I am O-, so they hound me for blood) the RC was not, as a matter of policy, testing blood for Covid antibodies, nor did they even care if you'd had it (so long as you had recovered and didn't have it currently). At that stage, they did have a convalescent plasma [medicalnewstoday.com] program (where people that had recovered from Covid could donate plasma (antibodies) which could be then transfused to those fighting the disease to help them), but you had to sign up for it and donate at special locations (e.g. none of the usual blood drives you could go to).
I got a call last night to schedule my next donation (every 3 months for whole blood) and I asked them about the CP donation (I had a (very good) antibody test and am positive); they told me that now all donations are antibody tested and then the plasma is separated. So, no need for a separate appointment/donation at a specific location - ALL blood/plasma is now considered for the CP program if it tests + for antibodies. I believe the website is still incorrect. (It had a form to fill out if you wanted to participate in CP and what started the conversation is that I had applied but never heard back)
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protect you". Talk about scary, what if Chinese start getting full blown Covid-19 symptoms for second time.
protect you". Talk about scary, what if Chinese start getting full blown Covid-19 symptoms for second time.
They crack down seriously whenever they detect an outbreak.
Unlike the US.
Arizona looks like they could run into serious trouble soon.