Cleveland Clinic CEO and President Dr. Tom Mihaljevic explains how labs are using plasma in their coronavirus research.
During an appearance on ABC “This Week,” Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn said the agency is investigating the effectiveness of convalescent plasma as a possible treatment for the coronavirus.
Convalescent plasma is the liquid portion of a person’s blood that is collected from patients who have recovered from COVID-19, which contains antibodies that help maintain immunity and protect against future infections, according to the FDA.
“We are seeing if that is effective or not,” Hahn said. “It seems to be safe.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, convalescent plasma therapy has a very low risk of allergic reactions, lung damage and shortness of breath, and transmission of infections, including IV and hepatitis B and C.
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Hahn noted that more than 28,000 Americans have received convalescent plasma treatment, and encouraged anyone who has recovered from the coronavirus to contact their local Red Cross to donate plasma.
Dr. Kong Yuefeng, a recovered patient from COVID-19 who has passed his 14-day quarantine, donates plasma at the city blood center in Wuhan, central China province of Hubei, on February 18. 2020. (Chinatopix via AP)
“If you have had COVID-19, you have the opportunity to give back by contacting your Red Cross, contacting a local plasma center and donating,” said Hahn. “It could save a life.”
Those interested in donating can complete a form on the Red Cross website. According to the Red Cross, eligible donors will receive an appointment to donate at a Red Cross or non-Red Cross collection site and can administer convalescent plasma every 28 days.
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Eligible donors must be at least 17 years of age and weigh 110 pounds, must be in good health, and be symptom-free and fully recovered from the coronavirus after prior and verified diagnosis.
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According to the latest update from Johns Hopkins University, there are more than 2.8 million confirmed cases of coronavirus and more than 192,000 deaths in the United States. More than 894,000 coronavirus patients have fully recovered.
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