Coronavirus survivors donate blood plasma rich in antibodies

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Coronavirus survivors give blood plasma rich in antibodies that may help other seriously-ill patients

  • NHS Blood and Transplant photos show ex-patients undergoing plasmapheresis
  • This process uses machine similar to one used in regular blood platelet donation
  • The plasma from ex-patients has antibodies that develop as somebody recovers
  • It will be put into people with Covid, struggling to develop their own antibodies
  • Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

By James Gant For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

People who have recovered from coronavirus have begun donating their blood plasma to see if it can help patients currently infected with the virus.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) photos show former patients making the donation in a process known as plasmapheresis today.

This uses a machine similar to those used in regular blood platelet donation to collect the sample. 

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) photos show former patients making the donation in a process known as plasmapheresis. Pictured: Laura Martin at Tooting Blood Donor Centre, south west London

The process uses a machine similar to those used in regular blood platelet donation to collect the sample. Pictured: Rebecca Mascarenhas donating her plasma in Tooting

The process uses a machine similar to those used in regular blood platelet donation to collect the sample. Pictured: Rebecca Mascarenhas donating her plasma in Tooting

Recovered coronavirus patient Douglas James making his donation in Tooting

Plasma that has been extracted

Left: Recovered coronavirus patient Douglas James making his donation in Tooting. Right: Plasma that has been extracted

The plasma from former patients is rich in the antibodies that develop as somebody recovers from an illness.

What happens during plasmapheresis

Plasma exchange is carried out by a specially trained nurse. A person’s vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, pulse and oxygen levels) are checked before, during and after the exchange and any changes will be recorded.

During the procedure, a patient is monitored for any side effects and the appropriate treatment is administered if needed. An Optia machine automatically takes the blood, spins it, collects the plasma into a bag and returns fresh plasma or albumin to the person, along with their blood cells.

The patient is asked to remain on a bed throughout the procedure and to stay fairly still. This is to ensure a smooth flow of blood being removed from the veins and replacement fluid being returned.

But the person should be able to sit up on the bed to read, eat or drink while they are connected to the exchange machine. Once the main part of the exchange is complete, the remaining fluids are returned and the person is disconnected from the machine.

Source: NHS

It will be transfused into people who are seriously ill with Covid-19 and struggling to develop their own antibodies.

The number of antibodies rises steadily in the bloodstream of those who have been ill and is thought to peak between 21 and 28 days after recovery.

Donors must have tested positive for the illness either at home or in hospital, but should now be three to four weeks into their recovery, ideally 29 days.

A donation session takes around 45 minutes to give two units of plasma, and can be repeated as regularly as every fortnight.

Previous research has suggested that antibodies drawn from the blood of Covid-19 survivors improves the symptoms of patients severely ill with the disease.

Scientists in China who carried out the preliminary study said no serious adverse reactions were observed after convalescent plasma transfusion.

Ten patients received a 200ml dose of plasma, and researchers said all clinical symptoms, which also included fever and cough, subsided within three days.

The new photos released by NHSBT were taken at the Tooting Blood Donor Centre in London over the weekend.

The first plasmapheresis donations only started last week. Plasma donations will initially be used in a clinical trial.

But more plasma is being collected than is needed so that, if the clinical trial is successful, significant quantities can be supplied to hospitals immediately.

The plasma from former patients (pictured, Adam Drew in Tooting) is rich in the antibodies that develop as somebody recovers from an illness

The plasma from former patients (pictured, Adam Drew in Tooting) is rich in the antibodies that develop as somebody recovers from an illness

Convalescent plasma is pictured being collected from Tooting Blood Donor Centre in London

Convalescent plasma is pictured being collected from Tooting Blood Donor Centre in London

An NHS Blood and Transplant spokesman said: ‘This trial is world-leading research and these people are leading the way.

‘Plasma donation is safe and easy and you could help save the lives of others with coronavirus.

‘We recognise some donors will have had a difficult experience and we will make everyone feel cared for and welcome.

‘We’re so grateful to everyone who wants to donate to try and help us to beat this pandemic.’