In response to the first cases of mosquito-borne Zika transmission in the continental United States, the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas (CBCC) is taking steps to continue ensuring a safe blood supply.

“Due to the increasing concern over Zika along with many other factors that have affected the already low summer blood and platelet supply, we are even more concerned about being able to meet patient needs,” said Martin Grable, President & CEO of CBCC. ”Blood and platelet inventory for our community continues to decline and donors are needed now more than ever.”

An already low blood supply is affected even further with the recent addition of U.S. counties that have been added to the deferral list. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that blood establishments defer all donors who have traveled to Miami-Dade and Broward Counties in Florida in the past four weeks.

The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas has implemented the following FDA guidance and other actions to mitigate the risk of Zika virus:

• CBCC has been deferring all donors who have traveled to any areas with documented cases of mosquito-borne Zika, including donors who have had sexual contact with anyone who has traveled to these areas.

• CBCC will now apply these same criteria to include Miami-Dade and Broward counties, as recommended by the FDA.

• If other counties are identified, they will be included in CBCC’s donor screening.

• CBCC will continue to follow all compliance guidance and recommendations of the FDA related to the Zika virus.

• Finally, CBCC has applied to participate in the Roche Zika testing study and is working to implement Zika testing presently.

“We are taking these steps to ensure our ability to continue to collect in the event of a confirmed case of vector borne Zika transmission, as well as to reduce donor and patient concerns about Zika virus,” said Grable. “The community blood supply is safe and although there is not an immediate threat of mosquito-transmitted Zika in our area, in the interest of public health and surveillance in our region we are working to implement Zika testing.”

“It is important to reiterate that no donor is at risk for Zika virus by donating blood. Most importantly, we encourage the public to support patients now, and over the coming weeks and months, by donating blood,” said Grable.

The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas continues to be actively involved in discussions through America’s Blood Centers, FDA, CDC, AABB, as well as state health officials. CBCC will be meeting with other blood centers and medical experts from across the United States this week to discuss the U.S. response to these newly identified, but still very isolated instances, of mosquito-transmitted Zika.

For more information about CBCC, scheduling a blood drive or making a blood donation appointment at any center or mobile drive, visit www.cbcc.us or call 704-972-4700.

About Community Blood Center of the Carolinas

The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas (CBCC) is a non-profit community-based blood center and the primary blood supplier to 27 regional hospitals, serving 20 North Carolina and three South Carolina counties. CBCC focuses exclusively on gathering red blood cells, platelets and plasma from volunteer donors to save local lives here in the Carolinas. Every drop stays here, saving local lives. CBCC is a member of America’s Blood Centers, North America’s largest network of community-based, independent blood centers providing more than 50% of the nation’s blood supply.

For more information on hosting a blood drive or donating blood in your area, visit www.cbcc.us or call 704-972-4700.

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