We thank you for your interest in donating blood and helping your community. A few eligibility requirements are important to know about during COVID-19.
Donation eligibility during COVID-19
- You cannot donate if you are in a quarantine period that was mandated to you by a health care provider or health department official.
- You must wait 14 days after exposure and before donating, if the following applies: you are taking care of a person with COVID-19, or might have been exposed to the virus (assuming you never got sick).
- If you have gotten COVID-19 and are fully recovered, you are eligible to donate blood 28 days after all symptoms have disappeared.
Thank you for giving blood.
Many of our blood donors (new and existing) have stepped up to bring the blood supply back up to where it needs to be for the moment. But we still need you to come out. Please continue to schedule appointments at our neighborhood donor centers in the coming weeks.
The emergence of the SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, has had a big impact on the community blood banks. When schools, churches and businesses were forced to close for safety reasons, most of our community blood drives were cancelled, threatening the adequacy of the blood supply. Even the cancellation of elective surgeries does not diminish the majority of the community’s blood use.
Here are a few examples for which blood is required every day:
- Cancer patients
- GI bleeds
- Trauma
- Obstetrics
- Burns
- Emergency surgeries
Blood donation is allowed as an essential activity during this time of “shelter at home.”
When you make an appointment, we even send you an electronic letter with the appointed day and time, in case you were questioned about your travel destination.
Your safety is important to us.
We are following all the national guidelines from our industry as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for protecting you, and will continue to do so. We have increased our frequency of cleaning beyond what is required, because we know you expect it. This includes sanitizing the donor beds and surrounding work stations; donor screening areas, our refreshment areas, doorknobs, and waiting area. Hand sanitizer is readily available. As of Wednesday, May 6th, staff will wear masks during the donation process. This reflects a change in guidelines by the CDC and state and local government. A blood drive host location may require additional social distancing and mask requirements for blood drive participants. Donors may be asked to wear masks for themselves, as well as the safety of fellow donors and staff.
For more information specifically about COVID-19, please visit cdc.gov.
Convalescent Plasma Donations.
Individuals, fully-recovered from COVID-19, may be interested in convalescent plasma donations. If so, CLICK HERE.
I will not be able to give blood until after April 15. I can give blood on April 16.
We hope to see you April 16! Call or text us at 800-366-2834 for an appointment!
“COVID-19/coronavirus is not transmitted through blood.” – Does it imply a COVID-19 carrier can make donation as long as they don’t have symptoms? It’s reported that up 25% coronavirus carriers show no symptoms (healthy).
All donors go through a mini physical where their temperature is taken along with other things. We believe any potential carriers will be identified during this.
Thanks, Carter Blood
I’m always available to give blood or platelets.
I have an appointment on Tuesday 3/10
I will continue due giving.
We’re grateful to you, Cynthia!
The message doesn’t answer my concern – is there a way to test the blood collected to ensure it doesn’t have virus? People are screened before donation but they may be carrying the virus before it shows any symptoms.
COVID-19/coronavirus is not transmitted through blood.
Thank you for your contact and updates. Though I donate my blood this month, March 1, But I would like to donate my blood whenever this nation needs, even today. I am ready.
Iftikhar khan
Thank you East TX for helping the Seattle WA area with your generous support. We are from Tyler and now live in NW Wa and are thrilled to have our home town helping.
We do what we can for others! And we couldn’t do it with out you!
I would like to donate blood but how do I know I won’t be around people who are sick, since they may not show symptoms? How can I know I won’t get sick from the nurse taking my blood?
Blood donation is safe. The instruction that people should stay at home if they feel unwell is not only coming from us, but also from public health officers. The employees and blood donors that we do manage to recruit will not be individuals who are unwell.
Does giving blood reduce the ability to fight disease and make the donor vulnerable?
Also, is there a 6-foot distance between individuals in each location?
Is there an age limit on donations?
Most people feel fine after giving blood. A unit of blood (500ml) is less than a pint, and the average adult body contains 10 to 12 pints of blood. Your body makes new blood constantly, and the fluid you give will be replaced within 2-3 days. Eating a well-balanced meal and drinking plenty of fluids within 24 hours before giving will help you with the donation. Drinking after giving also helps your body replenish lost fluids. You should avoid alcohol before and after giving. Strenuous activity should be avoided for at least 24 hours after giving. If you have a hazardous or strenuous job, you should give at the end of your work shift. Smokers should refrain from smoking 30 minutes after giving. Avoid lifting or pulling for 24 hours with the arm used for the donation.
We do ask that donors respect social distancing and allow them to wait in their cars if they are not admitted immediately.
Donors must be at least 16 (with a note of permission, 17 without) and be healthy and well.
My FB post from yesterday.
I am livid! I made an appointment with #Carterbloodcare to donate blood today. I showed up in a mask and gloves to donate. They told me I am not allowed to wear a mask because it scares everyone and that it is a safe place. I said as long as anyone who comes within six feet of me wears a mask, than I would feel comfortable. The lady at the front told me their CEO made a policy that no donors can wear masks and they have no masks for their employees. I reiterated we are all supposed to be six feet apart and if they break that distance they should have PPE to protect their employees, as well as the donors. She reiterated they have none. I could either leave or donate while being exposed to at least two different employees there. I again stated I am healthy and they have a blood shortage and I wanted to donate but also need to feel safe while doing it. They refused and turned me away. This is ridiculous. If you go anywhere now, people wear masks or scarves or something over their faces and gloves. This is a stupid policy and I deserve to feel safe. I will try to check with Red Cross and see if they have donation stations near by and if they have the same asinine policy. I think #Carterbloodcare needs to change their policy ASAP in this time of blood shortage.
Thanks for your concern, and we understand how this could seem strange.
If anyone arrives at a blood drive or donor center wearing a mask, he/she is asked to remove it. Per the CDC, masks are recommended for sick people only. Our staff is trained (even before COVID-19) to ask donors or visitors to remove their masks, but are not forcing them to do so.
“The use of medical face masks is not recommended by the health care community for preventing infection in healthy persons. These face masks should be reserved for sick persons who have to go out in public, and our health care workers performing sterile tasks and also those who are caring for sick individuals.” – cdc.gov
We welcome you to speak to a Donor Advocate about this by calling 877-351-3600. We would like to hear more so we can ensure all employees are following our protocols.
Not sure why the people working there do not wear masks…at least when I gave blood a few weeks ago they didn’t. Even if feeling well they can be asymptomatic carriers which makes it very easy to spread according to the CDC.
Thanks for your concern, and we understand how this could seem strange.
If anyone arrives at a blood drive or donor center wearing a mask, he/she is asked to remove it. Per the CDC, masks are recommended for sick people only. Our staff is trained (even before COVID-19) to ask donors or visitors to remove their masks, but are not forcing them to do so.
“The use of medical face masks is not recommended by the health care community for preventing infection in healthy persons. These face masks should be reserved for sick persons who have to go out in public, and our health care workers performing sterile tasks and also those who are caring for sick individuals.” – cdc.gov
We welcome you to speak to a Donor Advocate about this by calling 877-351-3600. We would like to hear more so we can ensure all employees are following our protocols.
Would carter blood bank consider including in their patient screening process the blood test for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies? I would be a more motivated donor if this were a part of the pre-donation process. It’s a fairly inexpensive test with immediate results. If antibody positive, I would have peace of mind that I may have some degree of immunity and a reason to submit to an antigen test to check for viral shedding which of course has shown to be possible in asymptomatic patients. In addition, the tests results would help the public health agencies collect valuable epidemiological information on the prevalence of the disease.
Tom – thanks for the the feedback. At this time we are not testing as it is not transmitted through blood.
I just donated on Sunday in Lake Highlands on one of your buses at the church. I didn’t have an appointment, but saw the giant inflatable blood drop. Your team worked me in. They were great!
1 question: A family member is in mid seventies and occasionally requires blood due to low blood level production in his body. Understandably, he is concerned about visiting the hospital for a transfusion. Family friend who is doctor suggested he might be eligible for a blood transfusion with a scrip from his doctor. Is this accurate? Will Carter conduct a blood transfusion with a scrip from his doctor?
Thanks in advance for any insight you can offer.
We only collect blood, we do not conduct any transfusions. We appreciate you thinking of us!