The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been urging patients who have recovered from COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus, to donate their blood plasma in order to combat the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn explained that the blood plasma of COVID-19 survivors contains antibodies to the new virus, which could be used as a potential treatment for critically ill COVID-19 patients. This type of treatment is called convalescent plasma therapy.
“Prior experience with respiratory viruses and limited data that have emerged from China suggest that convalescent plasma has the potential to lessen the severity or shorten the length of illness caused by COVID-19,” Dr. Hahn said in a press release.
He continued, “It is important that we evaluate this potential therapy in the context of clinical trials, through expanded access, as well as facilitate emergency access for individual patients, as appropriate.”
Recently, the FDA said it outlined its efforts to team up with the federal government, academic centers, and industry to develop and provide seriously ill COVID-19 patients with convalescent plasma products.
“More than 1,040 sites and 950 physician investigators nationwide have signed on to participate in the Mayo Clinic-led expanded access protocol,” said Dr. Hahn.
He added, “A number of clinical trials are also taking place to evaluate the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma and the FDA has granted numerous single-patient emergency investigational new drug applications as well.”
Dr. Hahn pointed out that the efforts will depend on getting COVID-19 survivors to donate blood plasma.
He said the agency has a webpage to “guide recovered COVID-19 patients to local blood or plasma collection centers to discuss their eligibility and potentially schedule an appointment to donate.”
Also, the American Red Cross has set up a dedicated webpage for interested donors and the FDA has been working with other groups to encourage survivors to donate blood plasma.
COVID-19 survivors who have fully recovered from the infection for at least a couple of weeks can contact their local blood donation center to make an appointment.
“During this challenging time, many people are asking what they can do to contribute to the COVID-19 response.” Dr. Hahn said.
“Those individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 could have an immediate impact in helping others who are severely ill,” he added. “In fact, one donation has the potential to help up to four patients.”
