What is the Antibody Test?

AMERICAN RED CROSS – An antibody test screens for antibodies in your blood, which are formed when fighting an infection, like COVID-19. An antibody test assesses whether your immune system has responded to the infection, not if the virus is currently present.

The COVID-19 antibody test is authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to the coronavirus, regardless of whether they developed symptoms.

Donors who test positive for COVID-19 antibodies may have the unique opportunity to help patients fighting the disease. Learn more about convalescent plasma donations.

Please note the Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, including COVID-19.

If you feel unwell for any reason, please postpone your donation. Individuals who believe they may be ill with COVID-19 should not present to donate until they are symptom-free for 14 days and feeling well and healthy.

The results of your antibody test will be available by logging in to your Blood Donor account on the Blood Donor App or online within one to two weeks after your donation.

You can also find the results of your mini-physical, including temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, and iron levels. Antibody testing is performed on all donations made on or after June 15, 2020.

Log in to your donor account on RedCrossBlood.org or the Blood Donor App to see your test results.

Note: The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test, and a positive antibody test results do not confirm infection or immunity; a positive antibody test indicates potential prior exposure to the virus.

What Do Your Results Mean

The Red Cross tests every blood donation for a variety of infections. All blood, platelet, and plasma donations on or after June 15, 2020, will also be tested for COVID-19 antibodies.

Donations will be tested for COVID-19 antibodies using samples obtained at the time of donation and sent to a laboratory where samples will undergo routine screening and infectious disease testing.

If your antibody test result is positive, the plasma from your blood donation may be processed into a convalescent plasma product to help patients battling the virus.

Whatever your antibody testing result, your blood donation is critical to helping save lives. You may also be contacted about participating in research studying those individuals with positive results.

Learn more: 

What To Know About COVID-19 Antibody Testing

• What is the COVID-19 antibody test?
• What’s the difference between a diagnostic test and an antibody test?
• Do donors need to have a successful donation to receive an antibody test result?
• How long will the Red Cross be antibody testing?

SEE ALL QUESTIONS REGARDING COVID-19 ANTIBODY TESTING AND DONATION ELIGIBILITY