CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Coastal Bend Blood Center is testing all blood donors for antibodies to the coronavirus.
An antibody test is different from a test that detects the virus itself. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved these tests for detecting antibodies against SARS-Co V-2 in a person.
"Antibodies are produced when a person has been infected, therefore, a positive result from this test would indicate that the donor was previously exposed to the virus," said a press release from the blood center.
You can donate your blood and get tested between June 15 and Aug. 31.
Donors must still meet the criteria to be a donor and appear to be healthy.
The Blood Center tests your blood donation for the antibodies.
"If you have a positive test result, it is very likely that you previously had been exposed to the virus causing COVID-19 and that you have developed an antibody response to the virus," says their press release. "There is also the small possibility that the test can give a positive result that is wrong (a false positive result)."
There are four ways to schedule an appointment with the Coastal Bend Blood Center.
- You can visit here.
- You can text “APPOINT” to 999-777
- You can call at 361-855-4943