Latest data from NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) shows people in the East of England who were previously in hospital with COVID-19 have donated plasma over 100 times.
Donors who received hospital treatment for coronavirus are more likely to have the high level of antibodies needed for convalescent plasma, which could help others in hospital struggling to develop their own immune response to the virus.
If clinical trials show patient benefit, plasma could be a life-saving treatment for people who won’t respond to vaccination, such as those receiving chemotherapy, and before vaccines are fully introduced.
Luton’s plasma donation centre has taken over 70 donations from 31 patients who were in hospital earlier this year, with further donations being taken at a centre in Cambridge. A new donor centre has also just opened in Chelmsford, for which over 125 previously hospitalised COVID patients have already registered to donate and are now being assessed for donation.
Joe Burke, 53, from Luton, is one of the top convalescent plasma donors in the east of England, with 13 donations so far. He needed hospital care after falling seriously ill towards the end of March. During the early stages he experienced a very high temperature before being admitted to hospital.
The civil engineer spent six nights in Luton and Dunstable Hospital and was discharged back home on 1 April and said: “I remember feeling very vulnerable and being concerned that there wasn’t really any known clinical treatment at that time.”
Joe registered to donate plasma on the NHSBT website and has now become a regular at Luton Donor Centre.
“After receiving such good care from the staff doing all they could, I felt I should do what I could to help those who will have to receive hospital treatment in the future. That they may have access to a form of treatment that may aid their recovery.”
This latest data comes as NHSBT renews its call for more donors to support its clinical trials for convalescent plasma as a treatment for COVID-19. The trials will determine whether the antibody-rich blood plasma found in people who’ve had coronavirus could be an effective treatment for general use in the NHS.
Professor David Roberts, NHSBT associate medical director for blood donation, said: “Our analysis shows people who had hospital care make our best donors. They have the highest antibody levels and their antibodies stay higher for longer. Your body quickly replaces the donated plasma and antibodies and it does not affect antibody levels in the long term.
“We are grateful to people in Luton and the East of England who have been willing to donate their plasma. Especially to those who were in hospital and will have had a difficult time this year. By donating, they could be helping to save lives.”
People of all levels of illness can donate – including people with minor symptoms – but there is a special need for the most seriously ill people to donate as new analysis shows generally they have the highest antibody levels.
If you’ve had confirmed coronavirus or the symptoms, you can volunteer today to donate plasma at www.nhsbt.nhs.uk or simply search online for ‘donate plasma’.
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