What can you do when you are feeling better after COVID-19 illness?Collecting plasma from Covid-19 survivors to use in treatment of sick individuals- "Convalescent plasma is an antibody-rich product made from blood donated
by people who have recovered from the disease caused by the virus," said Stephen M. Hahn, MD, FDA Commissioner of Food
and Drugs in a statement. "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. 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." The
Donate Covid-19 Plasma website explains that, in order to donate, "individuals must have had a prior diagnosis of Covid-19
documented by a laboratory test and meet other donor criteria," and their symptoms must have been resolved for at least
28 days prior to donation, or have a negative lab test and be symptom free for at least 14 days. Individuals can donate by contacting the local blood center.
|
