Plasma Therapy has been found to be increasingly useful in saving lives of COVID-19 patients who suffer from a 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. ETV Bharat 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.
