Algonquin Area Public Library District includes a free COVID-19 antibody test on all successful blood drive donations
Algonquin Library Heartland Blood Donors coach bus sets up at the Algonquin Public Library District for their blood drive event.
ALGONQUIN – In partnership with Heartland Blood Donors or the Versiti Blood Center of Illinois, as they are also known as, the Algonquin Area Public Library District (AAPLD) has set up blood drives on a regular basis for a few years now, in their attempts to better the community.
The simple event typically involves having an affiliated coach bus park at the main library on 2600 Harnish Dr in Algonquin, where donors simply get on the bus and complete their donations there.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic however, it appears that people have become wearier about attending events such as blood drives, according to the AAPLD executive director Sara Murray.
In an email sent to My Huntley News, Murray explains that blood drive attendance was low at the beginning of the pandemic.
As it turned out, the library’s luck was about to change. Versiti had begun to offer COVID-19 antibody testing on all completed blood donations beginning Aug. 17, 2020. Murray was happy to announce, that those tests helped drive participation up at the library’s blood drives.
“Once the free antibody testing was added as a benefit to donating blood, response has been incredible. We actually had two buses at the last event to accommodate all of the appointments,” she said. “Our March 17 event will also have two buses, and all appointments are already full.”
While walk-ins can have an opportunity to donate blood, preference is given to donors with appointments and are ensured to always be at the front of the line. All attendees must also be in good health and feeling well at the time of donation. Should an attendee exhibit a fever, persistent cough, sore throat, or chest congestion, they will be disqualified as a donor.
Other requirements state that donors must be a minimum of at least 17 years old or 16 years old with written approval from a parent or legal guardian. Participants must also weigh 110 pounds or more and are recommended to eat something within four hours prior to their donation.
Versiti is expected to be administering the COVID-19 antibody test for the foreseeable future to all successful blood donations. Only a complete blood donation is eligible for the antibody test to be performed, according to the Versiti website.
Even though the March 17 blood drive may not have any more available appointments, Murray states that the library will have another blood drive event scheduled for Wednesday, June 23.
Theresa Therens the administrative associate for the AAPLD, is the one responsible for coordinating the blood drives at the library. When asked how she got involved with organizing blood drives, she stated:
“As part of a prior Strategic Plan initiative to collaborate with external partnerships, I was excited when my request to organize community blood drives was accepted. I have been coordinating the drives since 2011.”
Murray added that anyone interested in donating blood at the June event can sign up at: donate.illinois.versiti.org/coordinator/drives/view/5581906 or they can contact Carrie Futchko from Versiti at 815-271-9210. Futchko can also be reached via email at [email protected].
