SunCoast Blood Centers Now Offers Free COVID-19 Antibody testing for all Donors

As cases of COVID-19 begin to rise in the community SunCoast asks those who test positive to donate plasma

SunCoast Blood Centers will now test all blood donors for the antibodies to COVID-19. Antibodies are produced when a person has been infected, therefore, a positive result from this test would indicates that the donor was previously exposed to the virus. This test will be offered through August 31, 2020.

The test is authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for detecting the presence of antibodies against SARS-Co V-2 and is not intended to diagnose or treat COVID-19. Donors should be well and healthy at the time of donation and must meet all donor criteria. Donors who have a positive test result will be notified while donors who have a negative result will not by notified.

Why will my blood donation be tested?

Testing of your blood donation will help find out if you have antibodies to the virus that causes COVID-19.

What does it mean if I have a positive test result?

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. There is also the small possibility that the test can give a positive result that is wrong (a false positive result).

What does it mean if I have a negative test result?

A negative test result means that antibodies to the virus that causes COVID-19 were not found in your sample. However, it is possible for this test to give a negative result that is incorrect (false negative) in some people. 

SunCoast Blood Centers Locations:

Lakewood Ranch
Donor Center and Administrative Offices
3025 Lakewood Ranch Boulevard Unit 111,
Bradenton, Florida 34211

Sarasota
1760 Mound Street
Sarasota, Florida 34236

Bradenton
Bayshore Shopping Center
6026 14th Street W.
Bradenton, FL 34207 

Venice
Bird Bay Plaza
539 US Hwy 41 Bypass
North Venice, FL 34285

For information about testing call  941-413-1011 or visit suncoastblood.org.

About SunCoast Blood Centers – A registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, SunCoast Blood Centers has provided a reliable supply of safe blood products and services for our community since 1949.  SunCoast is the exclusive supplier of blood products and services for Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System, Doctors Hospital of Sarasota, Manatee Memorial Hospital, Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, Complex Care Hospital of Ridgelake, Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Sarasota, North Port Emergency Room, Fawcett Memorial Hospital of Port Charlotte, Englewood Community Hospital and DeSoto Memorial Hospital. SunCoast also partners with Moffitt Cancer Center to provide blood products including pathogen reduced platelets.  Recognized for its outstanding service, the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce honored SunCoast as the 2017 Non-profit of the Year.  SunCoast participates in cancer treatment programs, research and provides therapeutic services at the hospitals it serves. For donor locations and more information, visit www.suncoastblood.org or call 1-866-97-BLOOD.