What is Convalescent Plasma?

When a person contracts a virus like COVID-19, their immune system creates antibodies to fight the virus. These antibodies are found in plasma, which is the liquid part of blood. Plasma with these infection-fighting antibodies is called “convalescent plasma.” Through a blood donation process, this antibody-rich plasma can be collected from a recovered person, then transfused to a sick patient who is still fighting the virus. This may provide a boost to the immune system of the sick patient and may help speed the recovery process.
CCP (Covid Convalescent Plasma) is considered an investigational treatment because clinical studies are underway but have not yet been completed. Recently, plasma therapy was used during the H1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009, and again in 2013 during the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. It was found to be useful during H1N1 but not so much during the Ebola outbreak. Doctors and researchers are currently working on studies to determine how effective COVID plasma will be in treating COVID-19 patients.
While additional treatments are evolving, CCP could be an option that may help some moderately or severely ill patients.

Am I eligible to donate?

If you had COVID-19 and want to donate, you must be fully recovered to be eligible. To be eligible to donate, you must be symptom-free for at least 14 days.
To donate, you must feel healthy on the day of donation and pass all regular blood donation criteria. You have to be 18 to donate blood.

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I have not had COVID-19. What can I do to help?

You can consider donating blood! One blood donation can save up to three lives. Blood is needed every day to provide lifesaving treatments to a variety of patients. You can help ensure that blood continues to be available for patients by finding a blood donor center near you. CLICK HERE to see a list of major blood banks in Nepal.