Did you recently get your COVID-19 jab, or are planning to get it soon? You might be wondering if you can donate blood after being vaccinated.
The answer is yes.
However, the process and eligibility requirements will vary depending on where you want to donate blood.
In this blog, we will talk about the differences between donating blood to the blood donation centers and donating blood to research laboratories like Solomon Park.
Donating blood to the blood donation centers
Blood donation centers need donors—especially those with blood type O—to ensure sufficient supply of blood products for patients who may need them now and in the near future.
However, there are a number of requirements for blood donation eligibility to ensure the safety of both donors and patients.
- First of all, the COVID-19 vaccine you received should be one that is currently authorized for use in the US. You have to show proof of your vaccination along with the name of the vaccine manufacturer.
- Blood donors must also meet specific requirements to donate blood according to their donation type. For instance, for whole blood donation, a donor must be feeling well and in good health, at least 16 years old in most states, and weighing at least 110 lbs. The same requirements apply for platelet donation.
Do note that blood donations are routinely tested to ensure quality. These days, all blood, plasma, and platelet donations are tested for COVID-19 antibodies. The test will indicate if the donor’s immune system has antibodies to fight the virus, regardless of whether they developed symptoms or not. It will also determine the presence of any antibodies developed after getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
If plasma from routine platelets and blood donations test positive for high antibody levels, it may be used as convalescent plasma to help COVID-19 patients. Convalescent plasma is a kind of blood product collected from survivors of COVID-19 who have antibodies that could help patients who are still fighting the virus.
Donating blood to Solomon Park Research Laboratories
Blood donations to Solomon Park are used by researchers around the globe who are finding solutions to prevent and cure chronic diseases. They are NOT used for patients, but solely for research purposes.
This is why our laboratory has very minimal restrictions when it comes to donations from people who have received the COVID-19 vaccine.
- You don’t have to show proof of the type of vaccine you received because your blood donation is not given to another person.
- There is no waiting time, either—you can donate your blood to us after receiving your vaccine. However, we advise you to reschedule if you’re not feeling well.
- And because we value your time, we are prepared to pay $50 per donation.
Solomon Park Research Laboratories supports the research studies of the CDC and other medical research laboratories regarding COVID-19 and the SARS-CoV-2 virus. We provide human serum, plasma, and whole blood samples drawn from many different donors to help scientists understand the virus’ behavior, develop more effective vaccines, discover possible mutations and different genomes, and find out how many people have antibodies.
If you are interested in helping us, please call (425) 650-2000 to know more about how to donate blood to our laboratory and to schedule your donation.
