KGMU issues appeal to donate plasma for Covid patients
The medical varsity’s dept of transfusion medicine is the only plasma bank supplying convalescent plasma to Lucknow and many centres across UP
We are trying to maintain stock of convalescent plasma so that it is available to needy patients. PROF TULIKA CHANDRA, head, transfusion medicine department, KGMU
LUCKNOW: The department of transfusion medicine, King George’s Medical University (KGMU), on Monday, issued an appeal to people who have recovered from Sars-CoV-2 infection to donate plasma for Covid patients as the existing stock of convalescent plasma at the medical college was fast depleting.
The KGMU department is the only plasma bank supplying convalescent plasma to Lucknow and many centres all over the state. Prof Tulika Chandra, head, transfusion medicine department, said: “We are trying
to maintain a stock availability of convalescent plasma so that it is available to needy patients. We are asking people who are Covid recovered to donate plasma of any blood group.”
“Patients’ attendants are facing a tough time in finding donors due to non-cooperation
of Covid recovered donors,” said Chandra. “The department of transfusion medicine has supplied plasma to more than 150 patients in the second wave of the Covid pandemic and the stock available is scarce,” she added.
Eligible donors
Those aged between 18 and 60 years, weighing more than 50 kg, do not have any comorbidities, must have been corona positive in the last 6 months.
If vaccinated against Covid-19, 28 days must have passed after the last dose of vaccination. Females should never have borne a child. Donors will be tested for their haematological parameters.
All social distancing norms are followed and the procedure is safe. If donors qualify the criteria, donors of any blood group can donate plasma.
Where to donate
Department of transfusion medicine (blood bank), first floor, Shatabdi Phase -2, Shahmina Road, KGMU. People need not enter main campus of the KGMU and can directly donate plasma between 9am and 6pm.