Wondering how blood banks are handling the virus

[Sympthsical]

The explosion in Beruit injured more than 3,000, and the hospitals are begging people for blood.

I was curious how the blood supply is being monitored with this pandemic. I assume it's all being screened for Covid?

If anyone here in the medical profession knows, I'd appreciate some knowledge.

[leftieNanner]

1. I donated a few weeks ago

They didn't test me beyond asking health questions and taking my temperature. Don't know if they test the blood. It takes me for ever to fill up that pint bag because my BP is so low!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. EVERY pint is always tested. I'm sure they have a test for the covid19.

Here's a link from their website for how the blood is tested:

https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/dlp/covid-19-antibody-testing.html

[Sympthsical]

3. Thanks for this! n/t

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. You're welcome! I'm retired from the American Red Cross, so I knew there would be info. n/t

[live love laugh]

4. I donated in late March. They screened with questions

but I don’t know about actual follow up testing.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. Follow-up testing for the covid19 didn't start until June 15th.

There's a lot of info in the link I posted above.

[hunter]

7. I was a medical lab tech and blood banker during the peak of the AIDS crisis.

It was terrifying.

Personal friends and patients were dying but Ronald Reagan and the Republican evil clown squad just laughed.

I was frequently the guy who got the calls when our hemophilia patients died. A lot of them were children.

If there is a hell...