Local proponents urge bill to screen donated blood for COVID-era spike antibodies; speakers ask Legislature to amend donor-screening statute

Dr. Avery Brinkley, speaking for the Republican Liberty Caucus of Bay County, urged the delegation to consider modifying a state statute he cited as “3 81 dot 41” to require additional screening of donated blood for markers he says would identify donors who received modified-RNA COVID-19 injections. Brinkley described proposed testing using anti-spike and nucleocapsid antibody assays as a way to distinguish infection from vaccination in donors.

Karen Custer, a fellow member of the group, described national networks that pair donors and recipients seeking transfusions from unvaccinated donors and said some such programs rely on donor self-reporting. She and Brinkley asked legislators to consider adding spike-protein testing to donor-screening requirements or attaching the proposal as an amendment to another bill. They said revised language would be circulated after further meetings with medical advisers.

The request contains technical medical and laboratory claims voiced by the speakers. The delegation did not take action at the session; no public-health agencies or medical experts spoke on the record in the meeting to corroborate or evaluate the proposed testing changes.

Ending: Delegation staff invited proponents to submit draft bill language for review and follow-up with legislative health staff.