Local blood donation centers seek volunteers amid supply shortage

Blood donations with COVID-19 antibodies especially needed

DeKALB – For those who’ve perhaps have considered donating blood, now might be a good time to do so despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Dan Waxman, vice president of transfusion medicine and senior medical director for Versiti Blood Center, said donations have been down by as much as 47% in the past year. Typically, he said, 20% to 30% of donors are high school or university students.

“Those schools have been shut down,” Waxman said.

Waxman said O-positive is the most common blood type and the O-negative blood type is considered the universal donor, meaning all blood types can receive O-negative blood. Lately, though, the blood center could use more of all blood types, he said. He said about 6% of the population is O-negative and as a result, blood banks often stockpile more than double that amount.

“We collect blood seven days a week,” Waxman said.

Antibody blood donations especially needed

If you happen to have recovered from COVID-19 and have those natural antibodies in your system already, those blood and plasma donations are even more in demand, Waxman said. He said passive antibody therapy first came into use during the Spanish Flu pandemic 100 years ago and the center has been testing donors for those antibodies and urging them to become convalescent plasma donors.

“So we have been doing this for a year now and have actually sought out” those donation candidates, Waxman said.

Who can donate?

While O-negative blood types are universal whole blood donors, blood types AB-positive and AB-negative are universal plasma donors, according to the American Red Cross.

Waxman said those who have received the COVID-19 vaccine also will be encouraged to donate plasma.

“We only ask that people wait for two full days [after] getting the vaccine,” Waxman said.

How it works

Platelets – which help stop or prevent bleeding, according to the American Red Cross – are used to help cancer patients, trauma survivors and premature babies. They are only viable for five to seven days outside the body, unlike the 42-day refrigerated life of whole blood, according to a recent news release from the center.

“We constantly need people to donate platelets,” Waxman said.

Waxman said everyone donating blood must wear a mask and have their temperature taken before donating. He said equipment is wiped down in between each donor and the center also is practicing social distancing. He said it only takes about an hour out of someone’s day to donate blood.

Anyone age 17 or older in good health who meets eligibility requirements is encouraged to donate blood, according to the news release. Parental consent is required for younger donors age 16 and all donors should bring a photo ID that includes their birth date.

To schedule an appointment to donate blood, call 1-800-786-4483 or visit Versiti online at versiti.org/Illinois. Walk-ins are welcome.

Illinoisans can donate blood at the following Versiti locations:

  • 2428 Sycamore Road in DeKalb
  • 6296 Northwest Highway in Crystal Lake
  • 728 E. Veterans Pkwy., Suite 112 in Yorkville
  • 2625 W. Jefferson St. in Joliet
  • 2000 W. State St., Unit 1E in Geneva
  • 1200 N. Highland Ave. in Aurora
  • 1140 N. McLean Blvd. in Elgin
  • 204 Gary Ave. in Bloomingdale
  • 1297 S. Naper Blvd. in Naperville
  • 27W281 Geneva Road in Winfield
  • 6317 S. Fairview in Westmont
  • 16100 Centennial Circle in Tinley Park

American Red Cross blood drives also are scheduled for the following dates and times within DeKalb County:

  • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 20 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 675 Fox Avenue in Sycamore
  • 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 17 at United Methodist Church, 160 Johnson Avenue in Sycamore
  • 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. April 30 at Family Service Agency of DeKalb County, 1325 Sycamore Road in DeKalb

In this day and age, Waxman said, this is the one safe volunteer act people can do.

“And I think that’s tremendous,” Waxman said. “It doesn’t cost you a dime and it’ll pay forward and really save lives.”

Have a Question about this Daily Chronicle article?