PLASMA

Experts at the World Health Organization have recommended against using blood plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19 to treat patients with the illness.

ORLANDO, Fla. – With the surge of coronavirus cases in Florida comes the need for a greater demand of convalescent plasma donors. His wife said he had been on life support and no other treatments seemed to have work until he received convalescent plasma. One Blood also does antibody testing when you donate blood. If your result is positive, you could be a potential convalescent plasma donor. To register to become a convalescent plasma donor, visit oneblood.org.

Orange County’s EMS Medical Director Dr. Christian Zuver spoke about his experience donating plasma after he recovered from COVID-19. “Many of the places where you would normally see blood drives – like high schools, college campuses and companies – are not at a point where they can host regular blood drives,” officials said. The need for blood and plasma is more urgent than it has ever been in recent history. “We live in a caring community and donating convalescent plasma is just one of those ways we can continue to help each other,” added Zuver. To donate convalescent plasma or blood, officials ask that you make an online appointment at OneBlood.org.

Dr. Scott Gottlieb told CNBC on Monday that the blood plasma treatment for coronavirus patients tat was just granted emergency approval by the Trump administration may be somewhat effective. The Food and Drug Administration announced on Sunday the emergency use authorization for using convalescent plasma to treat coronavirus patients. Convalescent plasma is a century-old treatment that also was used on patients during the 1918 flu pandemic. The convalescent plasma is then given to people with the coronavirus, in hopes of preventing severe illness. "We have a lot of experience using convalescent plasma in the setting of viral infections.