Arkansas Blood Institute launches campaign to recruit plasma donors

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Blood Institute has announced an aggressive campaign aimed at recruiting more convalescent plasma donors in light of rising COVID-19 hospitalizations.

Beginning Monday, donors will be entered for a chance to win one of two $1,000 prizes given away to that day’s roster of convalescent plasma donors, providing another reason to qualify recovered COVID-19 patients to join the 20 or so similar donors who currently come in to give each day, a news release said.

“The need for convalescent plasma in our area has increased over 700% in the recent weeks, with demand now regularly greater than collections. Available supplies have reached critical levels, and patients will face delays in this lifesaving care if donors cannot be recruited in higher numbers,” the release said.

“As the community’s blood supplier, we will do everything in our power to make sure that critically needed products are on the shelf when our hospital partners and their patients need them,” Dr. John Armitage, president and CEO of Arkansas Blood Institute, said in the release.

“The need is here, and even a brief delay in getting this plasma might cost a life or prolong the illness for a coronavirus victim. We’re asking all eligible convalescent plasma donors to contact ABI today to schedule an appointment to give,” he said.

ABI has seen a decline in eligible plasma donors, in part due to the competition from commercial, for-profit plasma centers offering direct cash payments to each donor. These centers are pursuing research and development for the next generation of COVID drugs that are many months away from FDA approval and will not be widely available for treating patients well into 2021. ABI needs its donors to help save patient lives “in the here and now,” the release said.

A single plasma donation with ABI can provide plasma to up to four COVID-19 patients, in a process that takes about 90 minutes. To donate convalescent plasma, donors must have had a positive COVID-19 test result, be symptom-free for 14 days and be at least seven days past their last blood or plasma donation.

“In their battle against COVID-19, patients and those caring for them need the comfort of knowing that the necessary treatment will be available for them when they need it,” Armitage said. “If this daily drawing can help be the extra push donors need to schedule their donation, the investment will more than pay off. No one can put a price on saving the life of a neighbor.”

Appointments can be made by calling 1-877-340-8777 or visiting arkbi.org. More information on Arkansas Blood Institute can be found at arkbi.org.