ST. LOUIS — The American Red Cross needs people of all races and ethnicities to give blood to help ensure a blood supply as diverse as the patients who depend on it.
All blood types are needed to ensure that the right blood product is available at the right time for all patients.
Make an appointment to donate by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
The Red Cross is testing blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. The test may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether they developed symptoms. Red Cross antibody tests will be helpful to identify individuals who have COVID-19 antibodies and may qualify to be convalescent plasma donors. Convalescent plasma is a type of blood donation collected from COVID-19 survivors that have antibodies that may help patients who are actively fighting the virus. Donors can expect to receive the results of their antibody test within 7 to 10 days through the Red Cross Blood Donor App or the donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org.
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities include:
Poplar Bluff
9/17/2020: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Poplar Bluff Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 2509 Roxie Road
9/18/2020: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., The Excel Center, 2233 North Westwood Boulevard
9/18/2020: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, 3100 Oak Grove Road
9/25/2020: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Aire Solutions, 1405 South Broadway Street
Ellsinore
9/16/2020: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Ellsinore General Baptist Church, 16 North Herren
Van Buren
9/10/2020: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., First Baptist Church, 304 Sycamore Street
Clarkton
9/23/2020: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Clarkton High School, Highway 162
Malden
9/23/2020: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Malden Community Center, 607 North Douglass Street
Bunker
9/15/2020: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Fire Department Building, 300 Highway A
Doniphan
9/28/2020: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Community Center, 105 Washington Avenue
Greenville
9/9/2020: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Greenville City Hall, Greenville City Hall, 108 Walnut Street
Piedmont
9/28/2020: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Trinity United Methodist Church, 16069 State Highway 34
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor app.