The Red Cross is appealing for plasma donations from fully recovered COVID-19 patients, because it may contain the antibodies which can help others infected by the virus.
Donors must be at least 17 years old and weigh at least 50 kilograms. They must be in good health and must have a prior, verified diagnosis of COVID-19, but are now symptom free.
Assoc.Prof. Dr. Dootchai Chaiwanichsiri, the director of the Red Cross’s National Blood Center said, after the plasma drive in April last year, over 400 people registered to donate the plasma. Only 152 of those were, however, able to donate, producing 383 bags of viable COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma (CCP).
So far, five hospitals have used the CCP to treat nine patients, six of whom recovered, two are still receiving treatment, and one died.
