Pepper Fisher
PORT ANGELES — Have you ever wondered if you have COVID-19 antibodies? Maybe a sore throat or a mild head cold back in February or March when no one was sure what was going on?
You can now find out for free by donating blood to Bloodworks Northwest from now until September 30.
Things have changed a little in the way that Bloodworks operates in these days of coronavirus. Gone for now are the familiar bloodmobiles moving from town to town. They’re too confined for social distancing.
Bloodworks Donor Rep Meg Hall talks about the new model for taking blood donations.
“Yes, so what we have done is set up what we call Pop-Up donor centers, and these are safe and essential donating sites. They’re a little bit different than traditional blood drives because they take place in larger spaces to allow for the physical distancing that has to occur, so that we really reduce the chances of any kind of potential transmission. So we’re trying to be in every community, where possible, every couple of months, and we are in the Sequim and Port Angeles areas coming up here shortly.”
Hall says the antibodies test results are mailed to donors within two weeks of their donation. If you do test positive for the antibodies, plasma from your blood donation will likely be designated for COVID-19 patients. You will also be contacted to discuss possible future life-saving donations.
Hall wanted us to be sure and stress one very important point. This program is not for people who have recently been exposed to, or are wondering if they have, Covid-19.
“That’s correct. The idea is that we can identify people that potentially have the antibody, but to not test anybody who believes they actively have covid. They should be going to their doctor if that’s the case. If they do show up and they are showing any symptoms, they will not be eligible to donate.”
Bloodworks will be at the Sequim Holiday Inn at 1441 E. Washington Street Wednesday and Friday this week from 9:00am to 3:00pm.
Next month they’ll be at the Port Angeles Senior Center at 328 E. 7th Street on the 14th and 15th (see times here).
Appointments are required. Call 800-398-7888 or go to schedule.bloodworksnw.org
It should be noted that many experts agree that testing positive for the antibody does not mean you are immune to the virus and can’t be infected.