The second wave for COVID-19:  Do’s and Don’ts for Plasma Donation

Convalescent plasma therapy, also identified as the plasma therapy, is amongst the best known therapies for treating COVID-19’s critically ill patients. This method was used in previous pandemics such as H1N1, SARS to treat the patients.

In this article, we will further discuss the do’s and don’ts of plasma therapy which should be keptin mind before donating plasma.

What Is Plasma Therapy?

Plasma therapy is a treatment in which blood product called plasma isremoved from patients who have recovered from the infection, and is further directed to patients who are suffering from COVID-19. Plasma is the largest blood part and it counts for half of the blood content. When it is separated from blood, it appears light yellow liquid.

Who Can Contributethe Plasma?

Plasma donors save lives of COVID-19 patients. There are limitations to who a person can donate their plasma to. A person can donate plasma only if the person had tested positive for COVID-19 and has fully recovered now from the infection.A person has high levels of antibodies present in plasma.

Who Cannot Donate Plasma?

Even if a person has recovered from COVID-19, he/she can’t donate plasma if  he or she is  underweight or weighs less than 50 kg , has diabetes, is pregnant, has uncontrolled or high blood pressure,  cancer, chronic lung or kidney diseases or has heart conditions.

Do’s and Don’ts

1. Always carry a negative RT-PCR test’s copy for four months with identity proof called asAadhar card.
2. This way around, a person can save some time. If a person is asymptomatic, he/she can donate after 14 days of COVID-19’s positive report. If a person is symptomatic, he/she can donate after 14 days of the symptoms’ resolution.
3. Women who are pregnant cannot donate the plasma. This is because as per the studies, plasma from pregnant women or children, causesthe lung damage or occurrence of lung diseases in the receivers. Also, in case of pregnantwomen or new mothers there are certain antibodies, which cause adverse effects when being given to the COVID-19 patients.
4. People who are vaccinated for the COVID-19 can also donate the plasma after 28 days from vaccination date.