A number of hospitals have started using blood plasma (antibodies) collected from recovered coronavirus patients to treat patients suffering from COVID-19 with “plasma-derived therapy”, which has a *high success rate in preliminary results*. However, many hospitals have not yet started programs for this treatment.
Instead of the hospital establishing a formal dedicated program, which takes time, there are actually several different options available to enable patients to receive this treatment in a more timely fashion. Many hospitals are not yet fully aware of these options. If you know someone currently hospitalized for COVID-19 in a hospital that does not yet have a convalescent COVID-19 plasma program, see the following guidelines to help you advocate for the patient to receive this treatment on an individual basis OR to assist the hospital in establishing a program for all patients using a “shortcut”:
1. Hospitals can apply to give plasma to patients by utilizing the Mayo Clinic’s expanded access program (https://www.uscovidplasma.org
2. In addition to steps in #1, hospitals need access to convalescent COVID-19 plasma donations to administer this therapy. Multiple blood banks throughout the country are beginning to receive convalescent COVID-19 plasma donations and these donations will be potentially accessible to hospitals in the area. If your hospital would like assistance to find blood donation centers near your location that are receiving convalescent COVID-19 plasma donations, use this website (http://www.aabb.org/tm/donati
All information can be shared with hospital staff to ensure that they are made aware of these options . There is detailed, clear information about the expanded access program on the Mayo Clinic website at https://www.uscovidplasma.org/
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