American Red Cross providing COVID-19 antibody testing with blood donation

ALBANY, Ga. – Thanks to the American Red Cross, you can now get a COVID-19 antibody test when you donate blood. 

Not only is the initiative helping people know whether they’ve been exposed, it’s helping the Red Cross meet a growing demand for blood.

Blood demand from Hospitals has jumped 30% as surgical procedures are resuming after being postponed due to COVID-19. 

Red Cross officials say donating is mutually beneficial and makes a difference in the community.

“So of course there’s no end date to the fight against the coronavirus and the Red Cross urgently needs the help of blood donors and blood drive hosts to ensure blood products are readily available for patients. This is the time to take care of one another and a blood donation is essential to ensuring the health of the community,” says Red Cross spokesperson, Ronnika McFall.

To ensure the safety of donors and staff, the Red Cross is asking for all that wish to donate to schedule an appointment and the use of masks is strongly encouraged.