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Franciscan Health seeks plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients to help save more lives

As the number of COVID-19 cases surges, blood plasma from those who have already recovered from the virus can provide a vital lifeline to help critically ill patients fight off the virus. 

Franciscan Health is joining with Versiti Blood Centers in seeking donations of what’s known as convalescent plasma. A single donation can save up to three lives, according to hospital officials.

“Convalescent plasma has been used since the 1800s to help people infected with different viruses and bacteria. The idea behind convalescent plasma is that if we take the antibodies from a patient who has recovered from an infection and give them to a patient who is sick from that same infection, those antibodies may help that sick patient fight off the disease faster,” said Dr. Erica Kaufman West, infectious disease specialist for Franciscan Health.

Franciscan Health is asking anyone who has had COVID-19 to visit FranciscanHealth.org/CovidPlasma to learn more about the donation process and the convalescent plasma infusion program. 

“Donating plasma is donating blood, except that you’ll get your platelets and red blood cells back. Just the plasma will be taken. The same requirements for blood donation apply and you must be free of COVID-19 symptoms for at least 14 days to be eligible,” West said.

Blood donations from those who have not been infected by COVID-19 are also urgently needed. An appointment to donate blood through Versiti, Franciscan Health’s blood supplier, can be scheduled at 800-786-4483 or by emailing [email protected]

Individuals can make a whole blood donation every 56 days and a plasma donation every 28 days.

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