Spring Valley Rotary Club host blood drive

The Spring Valley Rotary Club will hold an emergency Red Cross blood drive from 2-7 p.m. July 21 at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church, 125 Sparkleberry Lane in Northeast Columbia.

The American Red Cross has issued an emergency need for blood donors to give now to help ensure lifesaving medical treatments and emergency care are not delayed or canceled due to COVID-19.

For a limited time, the American Red Cross will test all blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies as an additional health service to donors. This testing may help provide insight into whether donors might have possibly been exposed to this coronavirus.

An antibody test screens for antibodies in blood, which are formed when fighting an infection, such COVID-19. An antibody test assesses whether your immune system has responded to the infection, not if the virus is currently present.

The COVID-19 antibody test is authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and might indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to the coronavirus, regardless of whether they developed symptoms.

The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, including COVID-19. If you feel unwell for any reason, please postpone your donation. Individuals who believe they may be ill with COVID-19 should not present to donate blood until they are symptom free for 28 days and feeling well and healthy.

Donors need to be a minimum of 17 years old and in general good health. Individuals who are 16 years of age can donate if accompanied by a parent. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger have to also meet certain height and weight requirements.

All social distancing protocols will be in place and all donors are required to wear a mask. Appointments are strongly encouraged. To make an appointment, call Diane Junis at 803-873-0254 or sign up online at www.redcrossblood.org.

This story was originally published July 19, 2020 at 10:23 PM with the headline "Spring Valley Rotary Club host blood drive."