Blood donors needed with influx of visitors arriving for solar eclipse
The total solar eclipse is bringing thousands and thousands of people to smaller communities like those in the hill country. That increases the number of potential accidents or traumatic injuries, and medical centers want to be ready.
FDA drops restrictions that prevented gay, bisexual men from donating blood
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced this month that it was dropping restrictions that have kept gay and bisexual men on the sidelines for years. The South Texas Blood and Tissue Center hopes the new FDA guidelines will bring in new donors.
Leading SA: South Texas Blood and Tissue Center spokesperson on blood donations
There is a consistent need for blood donations in and around our community. We have seen people step up and help, but the need persists. Roger Ruiz with South Texas Blood and tissue Center joined Leading SA this weekend to talk about the need and how you can help.
New FDA guidance on convalescent plasma restricts which COVID-19 patients can receive it
SAN ANTONIO โ Despite the U.S. Food and Drug Administrationโs recent update on the use of COVID-19 convalescent plasma, the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center is still encouraging people who are eligible to donate. Some found patients did not benefit from receiving convalescent plasma. โInitially, it was a larger group of patients that could get convalescent plasma. AdThe new recommendations say hospitals should use convalescent plasma with high levels of COVID-19 antibodies before a patient is intubated or placed on a ventilator. Weโre learning so much, and thereโs this thirst for finding the best therapies for patients,โ Gomez said.
Blood supply โcritically lowโ in what South Texas Blood and Tissue Center calls โdisturbing trendโ
The American Red Cross is asking for blood donations to help fulfill an increase in need caused by the pandemic. SAN ANTONIO โ The South Texas Blood & Tissue Center is urging people to donate blood as it is seeing a โsevereโ shortage amid an โextremely urgentโ demand. Adrienne Mendoza, the vice president of Blood Operations at South Texas Blood & Tissue Center, said the need for blood during the coronavirus pandemic has strained the supply, โputting our community at risk.โAbout 500 donations are needed a day to keep up with the demand. โThe COVID-19 pandemic has contributed a secondary national health emergency โ a dramatic blood shortage for patients from coast to coast.โMendoza said the demand increased by 35% in January. A voucher for a smoothie at Smoothie King will be given to donors on Sundays.
San Antonio doctor clears confusion around COVID-19 vaccinations, plasma donations
SAN ANTONIO โ A San Antonio doctor is clearing up confusion whether the US Food and Drug Administration is allowing people who received a COVID-19 vaccine to donate plasma with antibodies to help heal sick patients. And so, thatโs only a small part of the coronavirus,โ Gomez Ngamsuntikul said. However, someone who was vaccinated could still be eligible to donate plasma if they had COVID-19 and still have antibodies that were produced from infection. โWhen itโs part of your natural immunity, the immune response is a really broad type of immune response,โ Gomez Ngamsuntikul said. For times and locations on where to donate, click here, or call the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center at 210-731-5555.
Blood bank officials say local supply is down to three days of use
SAN ANTONIO โ The South Texas Blood and Tissue Center has announced Tuesday that the local supply of blood is enough for just three days of use. The center says that the local blood supply is not keeping up with the needs of patients, as COVID-19 has overwhelmed the donor recruitment system in the area and across the country. Additionally, the center said the type O blood supply, which area trauma centers rely on, is still in the critical zone. โAll donors in the month of December will pocket a $10 Amazon Gift Card,โ blood bank officials said in a statement. Related: South Texas Blood and Tissue Center to hold emergency blood drive Monday
San Antonio firefighters donate their own blood to save lives
SAN ANTONIO โ Theyโre the first on the scene at major trauma events and this weekend, San Antonio firefighters, EMS and police officers were the first in line to give back to the community by donating blood. Conrad Gonzales, a retired San Antonio firefighter, felt he needed to step up when he heard that the South Texas Blood and Tissue Centerโs blood supply continues to be at an all-time low, due to the pandemic. โI thought, you know, letโs get the firefighters (and) make this, like, a first annual first responder blood drive,โ Gonzales said. โFor the month of September, we were down a little over 4,000 units (of blood),โ Cracraft said. For more information on how to host a blood drive, call STBTC at 210-757-9505.
South Texas Blood and Tissue Center to hold emergency blood drive Monday
SAN ANTONIO โ The South Texas Blood and Tissue Center is holding an emergency blood drive in an effort to rebuild its local supply. The center needs 500 donations per day Sunday and Monday to rebuild its supply and meet the demands of local patients, a spokesperson for the center said. All blood donations, but especially those of having an O blood type, are encouraged to schedule their appointments as soon as possible. The centerโs goal is to have at least a three-day supply of all blood types, the STBTC said. All blood donations will be tested for antibodies through Oct. 30, officials said.
Limited slots remain open for Morganโs Wonderland blood drive
SAN ANTONIO โ Day 1 of the Morganโs Wonderland blood drive is complete, and organizers hope to have just as good a turnaround for the driveโs second day. The blood drive is in partnership with the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center (STBTC). Morganโs Wonderland staff members say they know this is a community need with which they can assist. "Due to COVID-19, right now giving blood and donating blood is extremely important to our community," Morgan's Wonderland Chief Missions Officer Brooke Kearney said. Click here for the link to sign up for the blood drive.
JBSA-Fort Sam Houston soldiers help South Texas Blood and Tissue Center with convalescent plasma operation
SAN ANTONIO As requests for COVID-19 convalescent plasma spiked in late spring and early summer, the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center needed more support, so a team from Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston stepped in and played a crucial role in collecting and distributing convalescent plasma. Twelve soldiers spent 30 days helping at the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center. Freed was part of the team of soldiers that helped at the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center in San Antonio. Freed said this job also helped soldiers gain experience for future deployments where they would need to collect blood during a mass casualty event. They expect to help the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center again.
It saved my life: COVID-19 survivors reflect on importance of convalescent plasma donations
After spending weeks in the hospital and on a ventilator, a plasma donation helped Dorrian regain the strength to breath on his own. But with more requests from hospitals coming in, the donation center says they need more donors to keep up with rising demand. Click here to learn more about plasma donation. One blood donation can save up to three lives. To schedule a blood donation, visit SouthTexasBlood.org.
COVID is the enemy, convalescent plasma is the ammunition': COVID-19 survivors donate to save lives
SAN ANTONIO Joseph Dorian tested positive for COVID-19 in late March but became seriously ill, and within days he was on life support. Someone took time out of their life to save my life. Dorian decided he wanted to donate his plasma to save lives as well. COVID is the enemy, convalescent plasma is the ammunition, Dorian said. I know with donating plasma, I can help those kind of people, and I can help save a life, she said.
South Texas Blood and Tissue Center giving free COVID-19 antibody testing for blood donors
SAN ANTONIO โ The South Texas Blood and Tissue Center has announced it will test blood donors for COVID-19 antibodies for donations made from now through August. The test will be free for blood donors and the results will be mailed within two weeks, according to STB&TC. Donors can receive a Chick-fil-A voucher, an entry into a drawing for a two-year lease on a 2020 Ford Mustang from Jordan Ford, and a thank you gift from an online donor store. Sign up The drive will be located at the Battle for Texas lobby just below H&M. Staff and donors will be required to wear masks and practice social distancing, according to STB&TC.
BioBridge Global announces layoffs of about 100 employees, affecting majority of employees within QualTex Laboratories
SAN ANTONIO Layoffs of about 100 employees were announced Friday by BioBridge Global, the nonprofit parent of the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center, QualTex Laboratories, GenCure and The Blood & Tissue Center Foundation. According to a released statement, BioBridge Global has experienced the impact of the pandemic across many areas of its operations. The layoffs represent about 14% of its workforce. The majority of employees affected are within the QualTex Laboratories subsidiary, which provides testing services for blood centers and plasma collection centers across the country, according to the release. According to the release, Fridays layoffs will have little impact on the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center.
Have you recovered from COVID-19? You may be able to help those critically ill with the virus
SAN ANTONIO โ According to the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center, convalescent plasma is urgently needed in Bexar County to help critically ill patients diagnosed with COVID-19. โWeโre shipping out 80 to 100 units of convalescent plasma a day to our local hospitals (with patients) that are critically ill,โ Waltman said. John (left) and Deb (right) Almarez donate convalescent plasma on a regular basis since April. The couple has directly impacted up to 100 COVID-19 critically ill patients in San Antonio. According to the STBTC, theyโre currently the only organization in South Texas that provides convalescent plasma directly to critically ill patients.
South Texas Blood & Tissue Center says employee tested positive for COVID-19
SAN ANTONIO The South Texas Blood and Tissue Center announced Saturday that it had a team member test positive for COVID-19. The last dates the infected teammate worked were on June 13 and June 14 at the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center Northeast Donor Room, located at 8500 Village Drive. Waltman and Beddards statement said blood donations typically do not involve continuous close contact between the donor collection staff. Proactive safety measures the center has in place:Requiring staff to wear masks and gloves and providing masks to donors. More information on blood donation and the policies the center has instituted in response to COVID-19 is available at SouthTexasBlood.org.
STBTC in need of more plasma donations to help patients fight COVID-19, other conditions
SAN ANTONIO The South Texas Blood and Tissue Center says plasma donations are needed now more than ever, whether donors have had the coronavirus or not. The STBTC said plasma donations are essential for life-saving medicines for a number of conditions. While plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19 can be used to make antibodies for other patients, plasma from healthy donors is desperately needed to treat people with serious or rare diseases, which often have few other treatment options. For more information, or to make an appointment to donate, click here. RELATED: San Antonio doctor who survived COVID-19 saving lives with his plasma
Free antibody testing for COVID-19 at South Texas Blood & Tissue Center brings in more donors
SAN ANTONIO โ With the ongoing need for blood donations, the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center is offering a new and different incentive for your donation -- free antibody testing for COVID-19. Monday was the first day for free antibody testing for blood donors. RELATED: If you donate blood at the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center, you can get a free COVID-19 antibody test"I try to regularly donate blood," said Paul Yoder. Yoder was one of the hundreds of donors who made it out to the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center on Monday. Elizabeth Waltman, chief operating officer of the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center, said antibody tests are important to find those donors who can help others who have the virus.
If you donate blood at the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center, you can get a free COVID-19 antibody test
SAN ANTONIO โ As a way to say โthank youโ to blood donors, the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center is providing free antibody testing for COVID-19 for all blood donors this summer. The free antibody tests will be available to blood donors beginning Monday, June 8, through August 31. RELATED: Who should get a COVID-19 antibody test? The antibody test isnโt meant for those that are experiencing symptoms of the virus or believe they may be infected. RELATED: What can a COVID-19 antibody test tell us?
Double Down Blood Drive kicks off Thursday at Alamodome
Published: May 19, 2020, 10:32 pm Updated: May 21, 2020, 7:05 amSAN ANTONIO โ The Double Down Blood Drive kicks off Thursday to give people two chances to do some good during one event. For every blood donation made at the event, the Silverado Event Center will donate $5 to the San Antonio Food Bank. City leaders urge residents to donate blood, plasma for COVID-19 patientsThe blood drive will run Thursday through Saturday at the Alamodome. The South Texas Blood and Tissue is making it easy by allowing participants to set up appointments online at southtexasblood.org. Those who donate blood may receive an H-E-B gift card.
Blood types O negative and positive urgently needed in San Antonio hospitals
Blood types O negative and positive urgently needed in San Antonio hospitalsPublished: April 19, 2020, 5:44 pmThe South Texas Blood and Tissue Centers says donors with blood types O-negative and O-positive are urgently needed to help supply hospitals.
Blood donor candidates urged to keep appointment
SAN ANTONIO โ The South Texas Blood and Tissue Center has a message for folks who have scheduled an appointment to donate blood -- keep that appointment. Officials said once youโve made an appointment, do all you can to be there. โWeโre trying to keep up with hospital needs,โ Roger Ruiz, a spokesman for the center, said. "(Weโre trying to keep) 10 to 15 days supply of blood on the shelves. The center has five locations in San Antonio and one in New Braunfels.
Blood supply dramatically impacted by coronavirus fears
Blood supply dramatically impacted by coronavirus fearsPublished: March 17, 2020, 6:39 pmAware that potential donors these days need reassurance itโs safe to give blood, the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center has taken extra precautions during its blood drive that wraps up Wednesday.
South Texas Blood and Tissue Center holding blood drive amid critical shortage
South Texas Blood and Tissue Center holding blood drive amid critical shortagePublished: March 17, 2020, 5:18 pmAs the coronavirus pandemic continues, the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center is holding a blood drive to keep up with demand
Health officials: South Texas blood supply at risk of collapsing due to lack of donations
She says if this continues, it could lead to a collapse in the South Texas blood supply. Each day, the STBTC must collect over 400 units of blood to help patients, health officials say. Donating blood in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic is safe and in doing so, health officials say it can help prevent a secondary health crisis caused by the depleted blood supply. Health officials say they expect the lack of blood donations to continue as COVID-19 sweeps across the nation; however, the need for blood is still critical. The news conference will be held at 10:30 a.m. on March 14 at the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center.
Over 3,200 blood donations received in response to emergency plea
SAN ANTONIO โ South Texans helped relieve the โcritically lowโ blood shortage in the city, making 3,229 donations to help restock area hospitals. This comes after representatives with the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center said they were only one major trauma accident away from depleting its blood supply just last week. However, the need for blood donations is still urgent. 'Critically lowโ blood shortage in San Antonio continuesHealth officials said there is still a strain on supplies and just one major car accident has the potential to wipe out the areaโs blood supply in just a few hours. Help save a life during National Blood Donor Month with blood donationsCommunity partners, such as schools, businesses, civic groups and churches are also urged to host blood drives.
7-year-old boy with cancer, rare blood type, in desperate need of donors
SAN ANTONIO โ A 7-year-old San Antonio boy with bone marrow cancer is in desperate need of blood. The problem is, his blood type is extremely rare. Posters were set up in doctor's offices across San Antonio promoting the blood drive. "Putting that in the forefront, letting people know and bringing awareness of the importance of O-negative blood donors, blood donations, is crucial," said Roger Ruiz, of South Texas Blood and Tissue Center. Those interested in setting up an appointment can call The South Texas Blood and Tissue center at 210-731-5555.