The Thai Red Cross Society is seeking donations of plasma from people who have fully recovered from a COVID-19 infection, the antibodies in which can be used in the treatment of severe cases of the disease.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Dutjai Chaivanichsiri, director of the blood centre of the Thai Red Cross Society, the plasma can be used as an alternative treatment for patients suffering from serious lung infections, brought on by the coronavirus, in addition to drugs to ease symptoms, until a vaccine is available.

Donors must have fully recovered from the disease, been discharged from hospital and gone through a 14-day home quarantine.
Professor Dr. Yong Pooworavan, a virologist at the Faculty of Medical Science at Chulalongkorn University, said that the recovered patients are now immune to COVID-19, and this can be used to stop the virus from ravaging the lungs and other parts of the body in those in a more severe condition.

Studies of the use of plasma from recovered patients, in the Chinese cities of Wuhan and Shanghai, have shown that it is effective and safe and the method has been approved by both the World Health Organization and the US Food and Drugs Administration.
Any potential donor wishing to know more can contact the blood centre of the Thai Red Cross Society at 02-2639600-99.