Thank you for donating blood through the American Red Cross. During the blood donation process, samples are collected and sent to a laboratory where they undergo routine screening and infectious disease testing. The Red Cross is also testing donations for antibodies to the SARS coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes COVID-19, using the Ortho VITROS® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG Quantitative test. This test is authorized for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration through its Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) mechanism.
Testing may identify the presence of antibodies developed after past exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19 – regardless of whether a person developed symptoms – or from receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. It takes one to three weeks after an infection or vaccination to reach a detectable level of antibodies. At this time, it is unknown for how long COVID-19 antibodies persist following infection or vaccination, and what level of antibodies offers protective immunity against any given variant of the COVID-19 virus.
Reactive+ test result: Antibody levels were detected at levels high enough that your plasma may be used as convalescent plasma. Reactive test result: Antibody levels were detected, but not at the level required for your plasma to be used as convalescent plasma. Negative test result: Indicates that you have not developed antibodies to the virus that causes COVID-19, or you may have antibodies that are present at levels below the test’s threshold for detection. Pending test result: Indicates that the test is still in process. Most donors can expect to receive the results of their antibody test within one to two weeks through our Red Cross Blood Donor app or online donor portal. In some situations, final test results may take longer to appear. Not Available test result: Some tests may not be completed due to processing issues. Donors will need to have a successful donation to receive COVID-19 antibody results. Per standard procedures, only successful donations are sent to our laboratory for testing. |
For additional information about your test result, you may download or view the manufacturer’s fact sheet for the ORTHO VITROS® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG Quantitative Test.