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Free COVID-19 antibody testing for donors at the Coastal Bend Blood Center

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CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Coastal Bend Blood Center is testing all blood donors for antibodies to the coronavirus.

An antibody test is different from a test that detects the virus itself. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved these tests for detecting antibodies against SARS-Co V-2 in a person.

"Antibodies are produced when a person has been infected, therefore, a positive result from this test would indicate that the donor was previously exposed to the virus," said a press release from the blood center.

You can donate your blood and get tested between June 15 and Aug. 31.

Donors must still meet the criteria to be a donor and appear to be healthy.

The Blood Center tests your blood donation for the antibodies.

"If you have a positive test result, it is very likely that you previously had been exposed to the virus causing COVID-19 and that you have developed an antibody response to the virus," says their press release. "There is also the small possibility that the test can give a positive result that is wrong (a false positive result)."

There are four ways to schedule an appointment with the Coastal Bend Blood Center.

  • You can visit here.
  • You can text “APPOINT” to 999-777
  • You can call at 361-855-4943