KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Local Kalamazoo hospitals Ascension Borgess and Bronson Methodist have partnered with Versiti Blood Center of Michigan to treat coronavirus (COVID-19) patients with plasma from recovered patients.
As a result, Versiti is encouraging Michigan residents who have recovered from COVID-19 to make an appointment to donate their blood plasma. The idea is to transfer recovered patients’ plasma to current patients in hopes of receiving antibodies.
Officials maintain that patients receiving this plasma would not be receiving the virus itself, they would only be receiving strengthened antibodies.
“The treatment transfers antibodies that a recovered patient creates into critically ill patients, is approved by the FDA as an emergency investigational new drug and offers hope to thousands of Michigan residents diagnosed with the virus,” Versiti officials said in a statement.
As last reported on Tuesday, April 28, 21 recovered COVID-19 patients in Michigan had donated plasma, resulting in 76 blood products for use.
It is currently unclear as to how much the plasma will actually help patients, but this process is being actively studied by the Mayo Clinic.
“The immediate goal of this research is to determine if convalescent plasma can improve the chance of recovery for people with the most severe disease,” Michael J. Joyner, M.D. of the Mayo Clinic said. ‘A second goal is to test whether convalescent plasma can help keep people who are moderately sick from getting sicker.”
Potential recovered COVID-19 donors can call a special hotline that has been created at 1-866-702-HOPE (866-702-4673).
Potential donors can also find out more about Versiti’s convalescent COVID-19 plasma program and register online at this link.
