Jul 02, 2020

Red Cross Community Blood Drive will be July 16 - 17

Posted Jul 02, 2020 10:06 AM

American Red Cross has scheduled the next blood drive in Junction City for Thursday, July 16 and 17 at the Municipal Building. The hours will be 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the 16th and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the 17th.

The need for blood is always urgent but the coronavirus has reduced turnout at many drives across the country and has disrupted the supply.

All donors will be required to wear a face covering or mask. Bring one to your donation. If you do not have one a mask will be provided for you.

On June 15 the Red Cross began testing all blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. They hope testing for COVID-19 antibodies will provide donors insight into whether they may have been exposed to the coronavirus.

The antiody test is authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and may indicate if the donor's immune system has produced antibodies to the coronavirus, regardless of whether a person has development symptoms. For the next few months Red Cross blood, platelet and plasma donations will be tested using samples at the time of  the donation and sent to a testing laboratory, where the samples will also undergo routine screening and infectious disease testing. A positive antibody test does not confirm infection or immunity. This is not a diagnostic test.

Those individuals who do not feel well should continue to postpone their donation.