MedStar Wants Recovered Coronavirus Patients To Donate Plasma

GAITHERSBURG, MD — MedStar Health is seeking plasma donations from patients who have fully recovered from COVID-19.

The nonprofit hospital system is taking part in a national program, sponsored by the Mayo Clinic, to study whether convalescent plasma is an effective treatment against the new coronavirus.

It's not a new form of treatment, according to Dr. Aarthi Shenoy, the hematologist leading the initiative at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Plasma therapy has been used to treat past viral outbreaks — such as MERS, SARS, and H1N1.

Researchers hope that the plasma — the liquid portion of blood that's rich in antibodies — will "transfer immunity to patients critically ill with COVID-19 from patients who have recovered from COVID-19," Shenoy said.

In order to qualify, a plasma recipient must be a seriously ill COVID-19 hospital patient or an infected patient who may get sicker during their hospital stay.

A plasma donor must be fully recovered from the new coronavirus (symptom-free for 28 days).

People who meet the criteria to donate plasma, regardless of blood type, should call 202-877-6290.

"Once we know that you can be a plasma donor, you'll be referred to one of our blood collection centers in the community," Shenoy said. "At that center, they will take the plasma portion of your blood and return the red blood cells and other components of the blood back into your body."

Shenoy says the process takes about an hour.

More information can be found below and on MedStar Health's website.