Donors are needed at a new centre for the world’s largest plasma trial for Covid-19
A new blood plasma donation centre is opening up in West Sussex as the world’s largest plasma trial for Covid-19 expands.
The centre at Chichester will be one of 14 new plasma donation centres supporting two Covid-19 treatment trials being opened by NHS Blood and Transplant.
The new centre will open in the next few weeks. The final venue is being agreed and will be announced shortly, a spokesman confirmed.
People who have had coronavirus are being urged to register as donors now, so that they can be booked in for appointments in advance.
A spokesman said: “The antibody-rich plasma of people who’ve had coronavirus can be transfused into people who are struggling to develop their own immune response.
“The antibodies could slow or stop the virus spreading, which could save lives.
“There is promising evidence for the effectiveness of convalescent plasma but before general use patient benefit needs to be demonstrated in randomised control trials.
“The NHS Blood and Transplant led trials are the world’s largest randomised clinical trials of convalescent plasma. Donations are urgently needed so that if the trial confirms patient benefit, plasma can be made readily available for general use in the NHS.”
Hospitals in West Sussex have already transfused around four people.
Professor David Roberts, NHSBT associate medical director for blood donation, and also one of the trial’s principal investigators, said: “We have so far seen a fantastic response from the public. Donation is safe and easy, and you could save lives.”
Donation takes about 45 minutes. The whole visit – including the donation, snacks and checks – takes about one hour 15 minutes.
To volunteer, visit www. nhsbt.nhs.uk/