Gloucester Twp. Blood Drive Includes New Way To Fight Coronavirus

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Those who make a donation at the upcoming American Red Cross Blood Drive in Gloucester Township will have a new way to help patients battling the coronavirus, Red Cross officials said this week.

Plasma from whole blood donations made through the American Red Cross that test positive for coronavirus antibodies can now help patients who are battling the coronavirus and are in need of convalescent plasma transfusions, according to officials.

Gloucester Township residents will have their chance to donate at a blood drive at the Erial Fire Company, 1946 Williamstown Erial Road, 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 13.

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In April, the Red Cross began collecting coronavirus convalescent plasma from previously diagnosed individuals, who could only give at one of approximately 170 Red Cross blood donation centers across the country.

Convalescent plasma contains coronavirus antibodies that may help the most critical patients actively fighting this virus. Now, whole blood donations made at any Red Cross blood drive or blood donation center could be helpful in this effort.

“Donations that come back positive for COVID-19 antibodies now undergo secondary testing to confirm antibody results, and that enables the Red Cross to then potentially use the plasma from those donations for COVID-19 patients,” said Dr. Erin Goodhue, executive medical director of direct patient care with the Red Cross Biomedical Services. “With approximately 2 percent of the U.S. population testing positive for COVID-19 antibodies, every donation is important to ensure patients with coronavirus have access to every treatment option available to them.”

As of Friday, there were 1,067 cases of the coronavirus in Gloucester Township, according to numbers provided by Camden County officials. Fifty-eight Gloucester Township residents have died after testing positive for the coronavirus.

There are 10,542 cases of the coronavirus in Camden County with 552 confirmed deaths.

“Even on days when no new deaths are reported, I ask that you join me in keeping the more than 500 Camden County residents who have lost their lives due to COVID-19 in your thoughts and prayers,” Camden County Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli Jr. said. “As we enter an uncertain phase of this pandemic, I am inspired by the hard work and sacrifice of our community. Thanks to our residents who continue to wear masks and social distance, we have maintained low rates of transmission throughout the summer. If we continue this effort into the fall, I have no doubt that we can emerge from this crisis.”

The Red Cross encourages eligible individuals to schedule an appointment, download the free Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

In thanks, the Red Cross is offering a $1,000 Amazon.com Gift Card to five lucky winners who come to give in October. Terms and conditions apply; visit rcblood.org/unite. Additionally, those who come to give by the end of September will receive a free haircut coupon by email to participating Sport Clips Haircuts locations. More information is available at RedCrossBlood.org/Sport-Clips.

Antibody testing may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether an individual experienced symptoms of the coronavirus. Donations are tested using samples pulled at the time of donation and sent to a testing laboratory where they will also undergo routine infectious disease testing.

Coronavirus antibody test results will be available within one to two weeks in the Red Cross Blood Donor App or donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org. A positive antibody test result does not confirm infection or immunity. The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test.

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions— including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff — have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance.

Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.

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