The Oklahoma Blood Institute will be holding a Bedlam Battle, OU vs. OSU Bedlam Battle Blood Drive in Blackwell at the Chamber of Commerce located at 120 S. Main St. The Blood Drive will be held in the Chamber Conference Room on Thursday, Sept. 24 from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

There will also be free Covid-19 Antibody Testing. All donations will be tested for Covid-19 antibodies to identify potential convalescent plasma donors.

Appointments are preferred, to help with social distancing. Walk-ins will be accepted as the schedule allows and masks are required.

Donors who are ages 16 or 17 years old will need parental consent to be screened for Covid-19 antibodies and are not eligible to donate convalescent plasma. Also, this test has not been FDA cleared or approved. It has been authorized by the FDA under an Emergency Use Authorization for use by authorized laboratories.

The test has been authorized only for the detection of the IgG antibody against SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens. Blood drives are managed according to CDC safety recommendations. Test results will be made available postdonation. All donors will receive their choice of an OSU or OU t-shirt.

For any more information please call the OBI at 1-877- 340-8777 or go to OBI.ORG online. Interested parties may also contact the Blackwell Chamber of Commerce at 580-363-4195.