The Arkansas Blood Institute is offering expanded COVID-19 antibody testing that can tell blood donors additional information about their immunity status that is not offered with standard tests.

The free testing, which began Monday and will continue through Jan. 31, checks immunity status for the disease, even if the antibodies came from a vaccine or booster shot. Previously, the tests were limited to those who received antibodies from a prior natural infection.

The expanded testing comes as Arkansas is experiencing a spike in COVID-19 cases. On Monday, the Department of Health reported the number of active cases increased by 585 to 27,162, a number not seen in nearly a year. 25 additional deaths were also reported, while hospitalizations rose by 39 people statewide.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2022-01-03/new-expanded-covid-19-antibody-testing-offered-to-arkansas-blood-donors