FROM UNITED HOSPITAL CENTER

 

Donors at United Hospital Center’s (UHC) blood drive on Wednesday, Aug. 5, will not only be saving lives this summer – they will also be able to find out their COVID-19 antibody status, which may enable them to help more patients by donating convalescent plasma. The drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Mountaineer Medical Building, 120 Medical Park Drive, Bridgeport, WV 26330, on the UHC campus.

 

Vitalant, which operates the blood drives and supplies blood to UHC, is testing all successful donations for the COVID-19 antibody through Aug. 31. Donors who test positive may be able to help COVID-19 patients by donating their plasma. Known as “convalescent plasma,” it is rich with antibodies that may give people infected with the virus an extra boost to fight the disease.

 

Convalescent plasma is currently the only antibody treatment available for those patients. The Food and Drug Administration is allowing the transfusion of convalescent plasma as an investigational treatment, and Vitalant is working with hospitals to collect, process and distribute the plasma for treatment in patients with active, serious COVID-19 infections.

 

This antibody test does not test for the presence of COVID-19 disease. Anyone who feels sick or is awaiting SARS-CoV-2 swab testing results is asked not to donate at this time. Vitalant also is asking all donors to wear masks or face coverings during their donations. Vitalant staff wear them as well.

 

Appointments are recommended. To make an appointment, visit vitalant.org and click on the “Schedule Now” button; or call 877.25.VITAL (84825). Use the group code W4310001 for the UHC drive.

 

To find out more about the antibody testing, visit vitalant.org/antibodytest. To find out more about donating convalescent plasma, visit vitalant.org/COVIDfree.