Kentucky Blood Center Restarts and Expands COVID-19 Antibody Testing Oct. 20, 2020

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky Blood Center is once again testing all donations made for COVID-19 antibodies. The organization offered the COVID-19 antibody testing for three weeks earlier this fall to recruit convalescent The testing was initially just available for donations made at the KBC donor centers, but is now extended to include all mobile blood drives through Nov. 7.

“During the first round of testing, we saw growing interest from blood donors in finding out if they have COVID-19 antibodies,” Bill Reed, CEO of Kentucky Blood Center, said. “From that initial testing, we were able to identify potential convalescent plasma donors. CCP is used to treat critically ill patients with COVID-19. By extending the testing and opening it up to mobile donors, we hope to find more people who are curious about their possible exposure to COVID-19 who also may be willing to help their neighbors in Kentucky fight this terrible pandemic.”

While COVID-19 currently has no proven treatment, it is historically proven with other diseases, that convalescent plasma, may provide antibodies to fight the virus. Individuals who have had a positive COVID-19 diagnostic test or test positive for COVID-19 antibodies may be eligible to donate 14-28 days after complete resolution of their symptoms.

On March 19, Kentucky Blood Center was the first community blood center to collect convalescent plasma from a recovered patient for transfusion to a critically ill COVID-19 patient. Since that time, more than 200 donors have provided this potentially life-saving donation through KBC to more than 70 hospitals throughout the Commonwealth.

Kentucky Blood Center supplies blood and blood products to 70+ hospitals in the Kentucky area.

If you have already been diagnosed with COVID-19 and have fully recovered, and are interested in possibly being contacted about the CCP program, please visit https://kybloodcenter.org/convalescent-plasma-donation/ and join the registry. A KBC staff member will contact you regarding your possible CCP donation.