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The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) study is evaluating the safety and efficacy of using antibodies collected from people who have recovered from COVID-19 to treat those who have been infected.
Research leaders from the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) set out to assess the safety and efficacy of using antibodies from recovered COVID-19 patients to treat those currently hospitalized with moderate to severe forms of the disease. . Image: Kevin Brandt / EWN
CAPE TOWN – Forty-eight participants have so far been enrolled in a local convalescent blood plasma trial.
The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) study is evaluating the safety and efficacy of using antibodies collected from people who have recovered from COVID-19 to treat those who have been infected.
One part of the study focuses on collecting the antibodies, which are found in blood plasma, through a process called apheresis.
SANBS Translational Research Unit Director Dr. Karin van den Berg said: “We collect the blood using a machine that separates the blood into its components and then we conserve the plasma and give the donors their red blood cells and your platelets … ”
#ConvalescentPlasma The research leaders set out to measure the safety and efficacy of using antibodies from recovered COVID-19 patients to treat those currently hospitalized with moderate to severe forms of the disease. KB pic.twitter.com/YL63524iFe
EWN Reporter (@EWN Reporter) December 9, 2020
Van den Berg said antibody levels in plasma donations were tested before transfusing them into COVID-19 patients.
“Not everyone has the same level of antibodies and obviously we want to give the patient the strongest antibodies possible, so we test them and the ones that have really strong antibodies, those products that we use for patients in the research part of the clinical trial “.
The target enrollment for the trial is 600 participants, 300 in each of the two arms of the study.
Enrollment is expected to continue until August next year, but experts believe the process will be complete by then.
The trial is implemented at four sites in the country, including Mitchells Plain Hospital, Universitas Hospital in Bloemfontein, and Livingstone Hospital in Port Elizabeth.
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