LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — According to the Arkansas Blood Institute (ABI), blood donors will know more about the status of their immunity to COVID-19 thanks to a new antibody testing method they're offering.
Mario Sedlock, Executive Director, said it allows people to understand where their immunity really stands.
"This really covers the entire gamut and so it's really not focused on whether you've had COVID," he said.
From Jan. 3 to Jan. 31, individuals who get the new testing will be able to have a broader understanding of their bodies' immune response and whether those antibodies come from natural infection or the vaccine and boosters, according to Sedlock.
"There's been so much conversation about boosters and natural immunity. This test gives us a chance to tap into both of those areas," he said.
Sedlock believes this will be a helpful tool for many, as worries continue over new variants rapidly spreading.
"It really is a great opportunity for somebody, like me, to be able to go back and say, 'Okay, I've had the vaccine, now, where do I stand and do I need to consider getting that booster now?'" he said.
ABI's ability to test for donors' COVID exposure was previously limited to a detectable immune response from prior infection. Now, they can detect if an individual has antibodies from the COVID vaccine.
“Offering this important knowledge to our donors is just one more way we are proud to positively impact public health,” said Dr. John Armitage, Arkansas Blood Institute president and CEO.
“COVID will continue to be a major concern through 2022 and, in fact, over the next several years. We are committed to providing donors valuable information about their health from blood samples we routinely collect, including immune responsiveness to COVID and metabolic function from total cholesterol screenings. We are fortunate to offer these services through our own labs, without the need to outsource testing.”
ABI says knowing if an individual has detectable immunity to COVID would be beneficial in future health decisions, such as assessing the risk of reinfection or transmission, and even making decisions when it comes to public gatherings.
The free test will automatically be done at all donor centers and mobile donation units.
It takes about one week, according to Sedlock, to get the results.
"There's really nothing that the donor has to do, other than roll up your sleeves and come in for your appointment, and we'll take care of the rest from there," he said.
Arkansas Blood Institute has performed antibody testing of hundreds of thousands of donors in several previous phases of the pandemic.
This new possibility is something Sedlock hopes will help donors make better decisions about their own health.
"We've just seen new opportunities to make a difference in saving lives and I think that's probably been the greatest part of all of this," he said.
Arkansas Blood Institute is the local, non-profit blood supplier, supporting the inventory for patients in more than 40 hospitals, medical facilities, and air ambulances statewide.
Appointments can be made by calling 1-877-340-8777 or visiting arkbi.org.