UK to trial coronavirus treatments using blood from survivors
In the US, where the number of reported coronavirus cases is greater than in any other country, doctors have rapidly expanded a trial of convalescent plasma which has been given to hundreds of patients.
NHSBT is seeking blood donations from patients aged 17 to 66 who recovered at least 28 days ago, the time it takes to be certain that persistent antibodies are in the bloodstream. Donations can be made at 23 centres across England.
Prof Sir Robert Lechler, the president of the Academy of Medical Sciences and executive director of King’s Health Partners, which includes King’s College London and three major London hospitals, is keen to trial the therapy and has been contacted directly by recovered patients who want to know how to donate their blood.
“Convalescent plasma transfusions are not a silver bullet solution for the coronavirus health crisis; however, they do have the potential to be hugely beneficial. The US has charged ahead with this. They have already treated 500 patients with convalescent plasma, and although it is much too soon to know the results, anecdotally it has helped patients recover.”
Beyond the therapeutic uses being looked at in the trials, if the transfusions are found to be safe and effective, and if the supply from donors allows, the plasma could also be used in care homes to prevent people who test positive from developing the most serious form of the disease, he said. “There is an urgent need for this kind of intervention. Let’s hope we can start treating patients with this very, very soon.”