DAVENPORT, Iowa - The Federal Drug Administration now requires that donated blood gets tested for the Zika virus.
"All donors that come into donate will have to test for Zika virus with individual donor testing with nucleic acid testing," said Mike Parejko, Chief Executive Officer, Mississipi Valley Regional Blood Center.
The blood donated is run through a machine, detecting Zika is another step in the process.
"We put our first sample in when we are ready to start the testing process within 4 hours we start to receive results," said Parejko.
The Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center tests the blood every day.
THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY REGIONAL BLOOD CENTER TESTS THE BLOOD EVERY DAY.
"On an average day, we'll collect about 750 units of blood that are needed in the communities that we serve," said Parejko.
The center only had 12 weeks to get people trained and the machines up and running.
There is an added cost to transfuse the safest blood possible.
"The cost range for pass through range, from $6 to $10 dollars depending upon blood centers and that is for re-portable results," said Parejko.
Having those results lets the center now know the blood is safe from the Zika virus.