For the Times

WAUSAU – March is Red Cross Month, and the Red Cross is celebrating blood, platelet, and plasma donors for stepping up to meet the constant need for blood. All who come to give March 15-26 will receive an exclusive Red Cross t-shirt, while supplies last.

The Red Cross is also testing blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. The test may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether an individual developed COVID-19 symptoms. Testing may also identify the presence of antibodies developed after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

Cross antibody tests will identify individuals who have COVID-19 antibodies and may now help current coronavirus patients in need of convalescent plasma transfusions. Convalescent plasma is a type of blood donation collected from COVID-19 survivors that have antibodies that may help patients who are actively fighting the virus. Plasma from whole blood donations that test positive for high levels of COVID-19 antibodies may be used to help COVID-19 patients.

COVID-19 antibody test results will be available within one to two weeks in the Red Cross Blood Donor App or donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities include: Adams County – Adams, March 30, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Community Center, 569 N. Cedar Street. Clark County – Granton, April 9, noon – 5 p.m., Granton Community Center, 315 Maple St.; Greenwood, March 25, 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Greenwood High School, 306 W Central Ave.. Marathon – Wausau, March 26, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Entrepreneurial Education Center, 100 N. 72nd. Portage County – Amherst, April 5, 1-6 p.m., Peace Lutheran Church, 293 S Main St,; Plover, March 22, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Plover Municipal Building, 2400 Post Rd. Stevens Point – March 18, 19, 25, & 26 and April 1, 2, 8, & 9, 8:15 a.m. – 3 p.m., Stevens Point Blood Donation Center, 3201C Main St.; March 22, 23, 29, & 30 and April 5 & 6, 11:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Stevens Point Blood Donation Center, 3201C Main St.; Wood County – Wisconsin Rapids, April 2, noon – 5 p.m., McMillan Library, 490 E. Grand Ave.