Bismarck Daily Bismarck Daily Bismarck Daily
    • Home
    • Advertise
    • About us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    23 Jun 2025
    • Bismarck Daily Bismarck Daily Bismarck Daily
    • Local News
    • State News
    • Politics
    • Crime News
    • Coronavirus
    • Sports
    • Community
    • About us
    • Privacy Policy
    Blood donors step up as Vitalant adds COVID-19 antibody screening
    08 January 2020, Berlin: A blood sample is taken from a woman when she donates blood. The German Red Cross (DRK) has started a three-day blood donation campaign in a shopping centre in Mitte. For many diseases, preparations derived from human blood are often the only treatment or cure. Photo: Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa (Photo by Bernd von Jutrczenka/picture alliance via Getty Images)
    Coronavirus

    Blood donors step up as Vitalant adds COVID-19 antibody screening

    Ally Dillinger, 5 years ago
    MINOT, N.D. – Minot-area blood donors have been stepping up recently, enticed by the opportunity to help others in need and also to take advantage of additional blood screening.

    This month, Vitalant, which provides blood donation services in Minot, began testing all donations for antibodies to SARS-COV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

    “It has been so busy,” said Kim Conlon, donor care supervisor in Minot with Vitalant. “We are getting fully booked, so we are highly encouraging appointments, because with walk-ins, we can’t guarantee we will get you in.”

    Conlon said Vitalant in Minot saw a big jump in donors after the new coronavirus appeared in the area. The center anticipated that people might be hesitant to come out but that hasn’t been the case.

    Conlon said Vitalant actually had to manage donations to avoid getting ahead of demand. When hospitals cut elective surgeries to focus resources on COVID-19, the need for blood declined as well. Vitalant is seeing that demand ramp up quickly as hospitals resume services.

    “We went from having a very adequate supply to very low again,” Conlon said. “The number of people coming through our doors is very, very good to see. It’s bringing our numbers back to an adequate supply.”

    Vitalant is taking appointments at its Minot blood center, which is open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursdays and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Anyone interested in scheduling a blood drive also can call the center at 852-2161.

    According to Vitalant, the COVID-19 antibody tests are part of a full panel of tests performed on successful blood donations. Donors are not charged for the tests and costs are subsidized, in part, by The Blood Center Foundation of the Inland Northwest and The Bonfils Blood Center Donor Advised Fund. Vitalant uses an antibody test authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

    Information from Vitalant states that antibodies are part of the body’s immune response and not the virus itself, so antibody testing cannot be used to diagnose current coronavirus infection. Antibody tests are used to tell if someone had a past infection.

    While information isn’t available at this time to say whether a positive antibody test indicates immunity to COVID-19, it does mean a person may be eligible to donate convalescent plasma and help people who are still recovering from coronavirus infection, according to Vitalant. Donors shown to have antibodies might be asked during future donations whether they wish to donate convalescent plasma.

    State News

    North Dakota Department of Commerce offers second round of business grants

    Sports

    Minot athlete recognized for all the work she does in the community

    Related posts

    Coronavirus

    North Dakota’s active COVID-19 cases back over 1,000 as vaccine plateau continues

    Ally Dillinger, 4 years ago
    Coronavirus

    Vaccine rollout hits new milestone nationwide

    Ally Dillinger, 4 years ago
    Coronavirus

    Most local colleges won’t require students to have COVID vaccine this fall

    Ally Dillinger, 4 years ago
    Coronavirus

    Thrifty White Pharmacy offering thousands of vaccine appointments around the Red River Valley

    Ally Dillinger, 4 years ago
    Coronavirus

    Contractors working on city project in Minot test positive for COVID-19

    Ally Dillinger, 5 years ago
    Coronavirus

    Trinity COVID-19 vaccine clinic sees highest numbers

    Ally Dillinger, 5 years ago

    Follow us on Google News

    Follow us on Flipboard

    Trending Slider

    GirIfriend became enraged after discovering a used femaIe hygiene product, which likely beIonged to her partner’s femaIe roommate, before she kiIIed the man with her vehicIe: DA
    2 days ago
    Boy and his two sibIings started beating their famiIy member, who has 4 chiIdren, with a bat and stabbing her ‘over reguIar, resoIvable things’ before they shot her to death after the victim managed to stand back up: police
    2 days ago
    New deputy director appointed at North Dakota Game and Fish Department
    5 days ago
    North Dakota Department of Transportation seeks public input on long-range plan update
    5 days ago
    Head-on collision on Highway 10 leaves one seriously injured, investigation ongoing
    5 days ago
    Bismarck Veterans Memorial Public Library seeks community feedback on future events
    5 days ago

    Follow us on News Break

    Categories

    • Bismarck (1)
    • Community (595)
    • Coronavirus (232)
    • Crime News (274)
    • Local News (516)
    • News (14)
    • Politics (260)
    • Sports (215)
    • State News (436)
    • Trending (335)
    • Uncategorized (1)
    • Login
    • Register

    Forgot Password

    Registration is closed.