The Western Kentucky Regional Blood Center is in a high need of blood donations this winter. WKRBC officials said the process for donating is more efficient than ever, and COVID-19 antibody tests are offered to anyone who donates during the month of December.
According to CEO Janet Howard, WKRBC typically receives around 1,000 units per month of donated blood from October-December. This season, however, the regional blood center has fallen nearly 150 units short.
“It has been a struggle to even collect 850-900 units a month,” Howard said. “We have shortfalls every month. It will get worse before the month ends.”
The winter months are normally a busy time because so many organizations hold blood drives, Howard said. This year, because of COVID-related stipulations, those events have been cancelled.
Blood donations are also typically in higher need toward the end of the year for a variety of reasons, some of which include insurance deductibles being met and people striving to get medical procedures done before the holidays begin.
Because WKRBC is not participating in blood drives, Howard said the center is fully staffed and capable of making blood donations more efficient than usual.
“We have a large donor room, which makes it easy to social distance,” she said. “We can get donors in and out quickly as well.”
The free COVID-19 antibody tests WKRBC is offering for donated blood are “the gold standard,” according to Howard.
“The FDA only authorizes one antibody test for [blood donation centers] and that’s the one we have,” Howard said.
The tests have helped the regional blood center identify many of people with COVID-19 antibodies, Howard said. Some of those volunteers knew they’d had the virus in the past, while others had no idea, she said.
Before giving blood, officials with WKRBC will ask questions related to COVID-19 and each person’s medical history to ensure nobody who is infected enters the premises.
Those interested in donating blood can call the regional blood center at 270-684-9296 or sign up online via WKRBC’s Facebook page.
“You hear so much about the economy and [the financial crisis] right now. This is something you can’t buy,” Howard said. “You can give back. Your economic status doesn’t matter. This gift is priceless.”
