If you are a man who has suffered COVID-19, help the NHS in their search for treatments
“Your NHS needs you” is the urgent appeal of health chiefs, calling on all who have recovered after positive COVID-19 tests – particularly men – to donate toward crucial COVID treatments. The NHS is collecting blood
plasma for use in medical research to find COVID-19 treatments. Plasma’s vital neutralising antibodies could be used to treat patients who are struggling to develop
their own immune response.
NHS CHIEFS’ clarion call to arms is sharp as a needle … “We want as many people as possible to donate plasma”.
Dr Gail Miflin, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Blood and Transplant, said:
“Convalescent plasma is a precious resource and the whole world is now focusing on early treatment, before organ damage and hospitalisation.
Plasma could particularly help the most vulnerable people, such as the elderly or those with weakened immune systems who do not respond well to vaccines. This includes more than a million people with blood cancers, organ transplants, chronic diseases and more.
To be ready for the future, the time to collect is now.”
WHAT IS PLASMA?
A yellowish liquid that makes up about half our blood volume, plasma contains antibodies that help fight infection after a virus. Donated plasma is now being stored for further planned clinical studies.
WHO CAN DONATE?
NHS Blood and Transplant are asking anybody that has had a positive COVID-19 test result to donate plasma. We would particularly like to hear from men as we know they are most likely to have high levels of antibodies in their blood plasma.
HOW TO DONATE
Search “donate plasma” or visit nhsbt.nhs.uk to complete an online form. You will be contacted – the timing will depend on your recovery date and if you are in a group shown to have higher antibody levels – before being asked to give an initial blood sample.
If antibody levels are high enough, you will be invited back to donate plasma at a donation centre near you.
The procedure takes an average of 45 minutes and the whole visit should last about 1 hour 15 minutes.
HOW SAFE IS IT?
Plasma donation is safe and easy. Plasma is separated out, and the blood returned to you.
Your body replaces plasma and antibodies within 24-48 hours and you can donate as often as every fortnight.