Today is world blood donor day.

The day is named in honor of Dr. Karl Landsteiner's birthday . Dr. Landsteiner discovered the ABO blood groups in the early 1900's.

As we continue to navigate in the COVID19 world, I ask once again that all healthy, eligible people become
Blood donors. What better time than now?

Most blood banks in the US are struggling to keep up with patient needs in their community. As hospitals began ramping back up to full capacity, the strain on the community blood supply was amplified. A lack of suitable locations to collect blood is hampered by social distancing, diapered donor pools due to work from home and suitable locations with church's/schools/businesses all operating under revised hours.

Back when COVID started many of you helped and answered the call for your community.

https://texags.com/forums/84/topics/3099841/replies/56165819#56165819

I hope that you will return this summer to you local blood bank and that some new donors will emerge as well.

Thanks!

Have an appt on 7/3.

Learned I was b negative on my last visit.

O+ here. Cannot donate again until mid to late July.

Over 5 gallons so far.

Hosted a blood drive again last Saturday in our HOA (our second time hosting one). They talked me into a double RBC donation. Overall, I think we had about 23 donors.

Thank you all!

Unsung hero's

I donated yesterday, and I don't if it's just me, but there was a different atmosphere there. People were in high spirits. Everyone was smiling and enjoying each others company. It felt like a community. I think the isolation made us all appreciate how much we appreciate the interaction and how much we need each other.

I hope it's the same when I go back in a couple months.

I donated last week. Two units of platelets, one unit of plasma and one of red blood cells. I felt like a whipped dog when it was finally over.

What places can I donate and get an antibody test at the same time?
Will I be required to wear a mask to donate?

Where are you located?

North Houston

Gulf coast regional blood center

https://www.giveblood.org/

It does look like they require a mask

I have an appointment Sunday. I am O-.

One thing I found out this week is that Gulf Coast is apparently testing for COVID antibodies - so that is a plus for anyone donating blood.

Quote:

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Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center has begun testing all blood donations for COVID-19 antibodies, the center announced in a June 15 news release.

For those who have made a successful donation to the nonprofit, the test will be performed for free in addition to the standard testing all blood donations receive, according to the news release, with results available in approximately three business days.

The COVID-19 antibody test, authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration under an Emergency Use Authorization, will show if a donor's immune system has responded to the virus by producing antibodies, according to the release. Most people with the antibodies will have had symptoms of the COVID-19 disease, such as fever, cough or trouble breathing, though some may have antibodies and no symptoms.

Gulf Coast Regional is using the Roche Diagnostics Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Test to check for antibodies. It should be noted that those who do test positive for the antibodies may be asked to return to give convalescent plasma, in which the antibodies present might help others fight the infection, according to the release.

Gulf Coast regional is the sole provider of blood and blood components 24/7 to more than 170 hospitals and health care facilities in a 26-county Texas Gulf Coast region, according to its website.

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https://communityimpact.com/houston/bellaire-meyerland-west-university/coronavirus/2020/06/15/gulf-coast-regional-now-testing-blood-donations-for-covid-19-antibodies/

JMac03 said:

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One thing I found out this week is that Gulf Coast is apparently testing for COVID antibodies - so that is a plus for anyone donating blood.

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I'm scheduled to donate tomorrow.

Also worth going and finding out what your blood type is....new genome wide association study confirms there seems to be a protective effect with blood type O and risk with A

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2020283?query=TOC

Thanks for donating!

A+, donated at University Hospital in SA yesterday.