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If you're in the USA, Red Cross is giving free coronavirus antibody tests when you go donate blood so they can get more convalescent plasma donors. I was very m

If you're in the USA, Red Cross is giving free coronavirus antibody tests when you go donate blood so they can get more convalescent plasma donors. I was very mildly ill a couple weeks back (wasn't worth getting tested at the time with 6-10 days turnaround) so I've scheduled my appointment to donate blood this Tuesday. Supposedly blood antibody levels drop to undetectable levels a couple of months after infection though (note: we still have T cells for long term immunity) so this might not be useful for you.

tyfon 6y ago
I'm in Norway, but I guess I could just get an antibody test. Not sure if it would benefit me though. Could do it just for curiosity perhaps :)
- ahelwer 6y ago
  At least it'll give you some info about whether you're likely to make it when a really bad pandemic comes along. I thought I was being fairly careful - extremely diligent with masks, surgical-prep-style handwashing, disinfecting my phone, working entirely from home, leaving my apartment about once every two days for groceries or to go to a climbing gym (limited pre-registration required, masks mandatory, socially distanced, hand sanitizer everywhere, obviously this one was still a bit of a risk). So I guess we'll see whether or not my precautions were sufficient.
tacocataco 6y ago
Does the person getting the blood have to pay for it?
- ahelwer 6y ago
  Well, Red Cross sells the blood to hospitals to recoup costs (not for profit) and from there it enters the regular for-profit American healthcare system. So I guess they do, yes.
Pfhreak 6y ago
This is the most grim thing I've read in a while. Get your free test, the price is only a pound of blood and an hour of your time. In Seattle, at least, you can just go get a free test in a drive thru with almost 0 hassle and no cost. This is the way it should be -- as accessible as possible and free. Otherwise you'll have infected folks skipping testing.
- ahelwer 6y ago
  Are you talking about a coronavirus test or an antibody test? Donating blood is a basically pro-social thing to do anyway.
- jccooper 6y ago
  That's a PCR test, for active infection. That's not the same thing as the parent comment is talking about. Antibody is a blood test for (potentially) detecting past infection. Its public health benefits are lower and is usually not offered in a drive-through format. But it is available free with prescription, besides being included in blood donations.

tyfon 6y ago

I'm in Norway, but I guess I could just get an antibody test. Not sure if it would benefit me though. Could do it just for curiosity perhaps :)

ahelwer 6y ago
At least it'll give you some info about whether you're likely to make it when a really bad pandemic comes along. I thought I was being fairly careful - extremely diligent with masks, surgical-prep-style handwashing, disinfecting my phone, working entirely from home, leaving my apartment about once every two days for groceries or to go to a climbing gym (limited pre-registration required, masks mandatory, socially distanced, hand sanitizer everywhere, obviously this one was still a bit of a risk). So I guess we'll see whether or not my precautions were sufficient.

tacocataco 6y ago

Does the person getting the blood have to pay for it?

ahelwer 6y ago
Well, Red Cross sells the blood to hospitals to recoup costs (not for profit) and from there it enters the regular for-profit American healthcare system. So I guess they do, yes.

Pfhreak 6y ago

This is the most grim thing I've read in a while. Get your free test, the price is only a pound of blood and an hour of your time. In Seattle, at least, you can just go get a free test in a drive thru with almost 0 hassle and no cost. This is the way it should be -- as accessible as possible and free. Otherwise you'll have infected folks skipping testing.

ahelwer 6y ago
Are you talking about a coronavirus test or an antibody test? Donating blood is a basically pro-social thing to do anyway.
jccooper 6y ago
That's a PCR test, for active infection. That's not the same thing as the parent comment is talking about. Antibody is a blood test for (potentially) detecting past infection. Its public health benefits are lower and is usually not offered in a drive-through format. But it is available free with prescription, besides being included in blood donations.