ICYMI: Northport VAMC Joins In Coronavirus Treatment Trials

EAST NORTHPORT, NY — The Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center is among other VA hospitals in the United States participating in a series of clinical trials and investigations aimed at finding ways to mitigate or potentially prevent symptoms of the new coronavirus in patients, it stated in a news release.

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is cooperating with the Mayo Clinic, a Minnesota-based nonprofit academic medical center, which is studying whether blood transfusions from people who recovered from COVID-19 can help those who are still suffering with symptoms. Plasma from COVID-19 survivors contains antibodies that may help current patients, said the U.S. VA. More than 60 of VA's medical centers and clinics are prepared to perform transfusions of this plasma to COVID-19 patients.

The Northport VA Medical Center participated in the plasma antibody transfusion study coordinated by the Mayo Clinic for two reasons:

"Firstly, it gave our patients a chance to receive cutting-edge care at a time when they needed it most," Levi Spellman, public affairs at Northport VAMC told Patch. "Secondly, participation in these types of studies helps to substantially advance medical science."

The Northport VA team worked with four patients, all of whom are U.S. veterans who had the coronavirus. Staff recruited patients who were best suited for the study, Spellman said. After administering the treatment, the patients' progress was followed and recorded in the national research database. The national tests are an ongoing process.

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