Plasma Donation during COVID-19

Plasma therapy is said to be useful in treating severe COVID patients, here is what you need to know about this life-saving treatment for COVID patients.

Plasma Therapy has been found to be increasingly useful in saving lives ofCOVID-19 patients who suffer froma moderate-to-severe form of respiratory distress. It is the need of the hour to encourage more and more recovered patients to donate plasma. Patients are wary of coming out and donating for fear of contracting the illness.ETVBharat Sukhibhava spoke to Dr. Suman Jain, MBBS, DCH, CEO,Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Society, Hyderabad, for more inputs on the same.

1. What is the use of plasma therapy in COVID 19 treatment?

Plasma used for “Plasma therapy in COVID” can be taken only from the patients who are cured of COVID 19 infection. It is called Convalescent Plasma, which is rich in antibodies against COVID-19 and it is helpful only for the patients who are in the serious condition/in ICU. 90% of patients don’t need plasma therapy.

2. Who all can donate?

All the people who have recovered completely for at least 14 days can donate plasma. However, a negative lab test for active COVID-19 disease is not necessary to qualify for plasma donation.

A person may donate plasma if:

• He/She is fit and healthy
• He/She is aged 17 or above
• He/She has enough blood to donate safely.

A person must not donate plasma if he/she:

• Is an HIV positive
• Is a carrier of hepatitis B or hepatitis C
• Is HTLV positive
• Has ever had or been treated for syphilis
• Has ever injected, or been injected with, drugs- even only once such as body-building drugs, injectable tanning agents, etc. unless prescribed by a doctor.

3. Why should a treated patient / cured patient donate?

A treated patient only can donate because they will be having antibodies to fight against COVID-19 infection. The plasma donated by one patient can be used to treat up to two patients.

5. How many times can I donate Plasma?

The antibodies produced by COVID in a treated patient usually remain in a high titre up to 3 months and thereafter starts declining. So plasma donation done within these 3 months is seen to be more effective.

Having said that, we also need to ensure that a good antibody titre is maintained for the donor as well. Therefore, though there are cases where donors have been seen to donate as many as 6 times over 3 months, it is generally determined by the Plasma Therapy Center based on the laboratory results, vital parameters of the patient, and medical fitness by the doctor at the center.

4. Is there any risk to my life if I donate plasma?

There is no risk to life. Prior to each donation, a staff member checks the donor’s vital signs and asks questions about health and travel.

The tubing and other collection material used (rather any kind of equipment) that comes in contact with the donor’s blood are sterile and are thrown off after each donation. New materials are used for every donation.

6. Where do I go to donate, does it take time?

Any blood bank / Government hospital which is approved by FDA Procedure is for 60-90 minutes but it is not painful. You can carry a book along to read or listen to music and relax during the procedure.

7. How to spread awareness about the same

• Register your name with a blood bank/government hospital stating your willingness for donating plasma
• Post on social media when you donate, along with your reason for donating that day and tag it. Share your experience.
• Talk about the importance of donating blood with your family and friends and your reason for giving the gift of life to encourage them to come forward for donating plasma.