Breckenridge Rotary Club to host blood drive on Dec. 3
The Breckenridge Rotary Club will host a blood drive with Carter BloodCare from noon to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3, in the First National Bank Community Room.
All blood donors will receive coronavirus antibody testing. According to the Carter BloodCare website, “The test is an indicator of someone’s exposure to coronavirus, but is not an indicator of immunity to COVID-19.“
Information on the Carter BloodCare website explains that the plasma from recovered patients is called convalescent plasma and it is being transfused to treat COVID-19. The convalescent plasma contains antibodies that are believed to help fight the virus. Those whose blood tests positive for the COVID-19 antibodies might be eligible to donate convalescent plasma, as well.
The antibodies test does not test for the actual coronavirus itself. The test indicates whether or not a person’s body has produced antibodies against the virus.
For more details about the antibodies testing and convalescent plasma donation, visit the Carter BloodCare website. Also, more details are available in the Breckenridge Texan’s previous article, Blood drive donations are now tested for COVID-19 antibodies, used in treatment.
Sherry and Les Strickland, the organizers of the local blood drive, highly recommend that anyone wanting to donate, go online to CarterBloodCare.org and schedule an appointment. Due to COVID-19 precautions and the popularity of the antibody testing, they may not be able to accommodate walk-ins.
For more information, call the Stricklands at 254-522-1959.
