Convalescent plasma therapy has been used to treat people with serious COVID-19 due to a novel coronavirus or SARS-Cov-2 virus. Despite a vaccine or proven cure for the deadly virus, researchers are investigating a number of approaches-such as convalescent plasma therapy-to combat respiratory disease.

What is plasma?

Plasma is the liquid part of the blood. It’s light yellow and made up of about 91% to 92% water.
Consists of 55% of the blood, with the other 45% being RBCs, WBCs, and Platelets.

What is Convalescent Plasma Therapy?

• When a pathogen infects the body, the immune system produces antibodies.

• In the plasma therapy, the antibody is taken from a recovered patient.

• The antibody then creates passive immunization in the sick person.

• Passive immunization in the sick person helps to combat the virus and recover.

Is Convalescent plasma therapy safe and effective?

• Plasma transfusion is generally safe.

• It’s well-tolerated by most patients.

• However, it can cause allergic reactions & other side effects in some.

Why CPT for COVID-19?

• Because there is no approved treatment for COVID-19.

• There’s some information that suggests it might help some patients recover from COVID-19.

• Positive signs of plasma therapy could emerge as a possible treatment for the deadly virus.

The Delhi government launched the plasma bank amid rising cases of coronavirus across the country. Check who can donate plasma?

According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), people who have fully recovered from the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection for at least two weeks can donate plasma. Individuals must have had a prior diagnosis of COVID-19 documented by a laboratory test while also meeting other donor criteria.

A person may be able to donate plasma if:

• he/she is fit and healthy
• he/she is aged 17 or above
• the individual has enough blood to donate safely.
• A person must not donate plasma if he/she:
• is an HIV positive
• is a carrier of hepatitis B or hepatitis C
• is HTLV positive
• has ever had or been treated for syphilis
• has ever injected, or been injected with, drugs- even only once such as body-building drugs, injectable tanning agents, etc, unless prescribed by a doctor, added the NHS.

Meanwhile, the ‘plasma bank’ will be set-up at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences in Delhi. Also, Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia had said that recovered COVID-19 patients can donate plasma, irrespective of residence, and subject to doctors clearance, reported ANI.

Source: Inshorts, TOI