OBI ‘Bio-linked’ Resource Helps Connect Donors With Blood Centers

The Oklahoma Blood Institute is trying to make it easier for people to learn how to donate, while also giving people the opportunity to help with medical research.

The online website called “Bio-linked” was designed by a team of Oklahoma based software engineers and helps connect donors and blood center to help during the pandemic.

The system has two parts: one finds people who qualify to donate convalescent plasma to treat patients with COVID-19.  It also helps find people willing to participate in medical research by filling out questionnaires, like medical and family history.

The Oklahoma Blood institute's John Armitage said the system is a way to help medical researchers who are trying to fine tune medicine down to individual patients.

"Where every treatment you get is matched to your own DNA and your own personal biology,” Armitage said.

Those who just want to donate convalescent plasma can fill out a much shorter questionnaire on the website to find out if they qualify.

"Within 72 hours that blood center will reach out to you to schedule your plasma donation.” Redwine said.

Chief Technical Director Justin Redwine said since the pandemic, registry through the bio-link system has grown to almost 100,000 people nationwide, which is nearly ten times the number registered before the pandemic.

"It grows by the hundreds if not thousands daily,” Redwine said.

Redwine said with an uncertain future, Bio-linked not only provides a more convenient way to donate but helps medical researchers to hopefully find cures.

To find out if you qualify to give convalescent plasma click here or want to be a part of medical search, click here.