The Community Blood Bank (CBB) in Erie is offering COVID-19 antibody testing to all blood donors through March 31, CBB officials announced Monday.
Antibody testing will take place only at the Erie Donor Center and select mobile blood drives.
The testing is made possible by a grant and will help continue to identify potential convalescent plasma donors, a treatment that helps in the fight against COVID-19.
The plasma of COVID-19 survivors has SARS-CoV-2 antibodies that can help seriously ill patients fight off the virus.
Record numbers of donors were seen at the CBB during antibody testing in November and December. Officials say they had hoped the trend would continue into 2021, but the number of donors has fallen significantly since the beginning of the new year which has led to a critical shortage of blood supplies in the Erie area.
The shortage also comes at a time of a critical nationwide shortage of blood supplies following historic cold and winter storms across the country.
“It is imperative we see an increase turnout of blood donors for the local patients in need of a life-saving blood
product immediately,” said Jaclyn Seymour, community relations specialist for the Community Blood Bank.
“Additionally, this time of year always puts a strain on the local blood supply due to inclement weather and cold
and flu season. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to add an additional obstacle for local blood
collection. All of these factors have created a very critically low blood inventory. Offering antibody testing to
donors not only helps the local blood supply, but also helps us identify more convalescent plasma donors.”
CBB officials say appointments are strongly encouraged. Donors can call 814-456-4206 or email info@fourhearts.org to schedule an appointment at the Erie Donor Center, located at 2646 Peach Street in Erie, and select blood drives. Donors who do not make an appointment could be turned away.
Donors can also reach the CBB through messaging them on social media.
The donation process only takes about 40 minutes.