Posted on December 15, 2020 by Heather Adams

Local Need for Convalescent Plasma Increases as Virus Cases Rise

From Miller-Keystone Blood Center

Local Need for Convalescent Plasma Increases as Virus Cases Rise

Miller-Keystone Blood Center Urges Recovered COVID-19 Community to Donate Convalescent Plasma

BETHLEHEM, PA – Miller-Keystone Blood Center has nearly exhausted its supply of Convalescent Plasma, the antibody-rich plasma used to treat critically ill COVID-19 patients, and urges those recovering from the novel virus to donate their Convalescent Plasma to help others. As area hospitals in the Lehigh Valley, Reading and Northeastern Pennsylvania see a daily rise in the number of cases, the demand for Convalescent Plasma continues to increase exponentially. To ensure our local community, family and friends have access to Convalescent Plasma we need recovered COVID-19 patients, to donate as soon as they are eligible to. Persons may be eligible to give Convalescent Plasma if they have tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus and have been symptom free 14 days or longer.

When a person becomes ill with COVID-19, it can take time to develop antibodies needed to combat the disease. While some individuals can become seriously ill and require the assistance of a ventilator, 80% of those diagnosed do not become seriously ill. These patients recover and have antibodies in their plasma. By collecting this plasma and giving it to ill patients the hope is to provide a boost to the patient’s antibodies, keep them from needing a ventilator and help stimulate recovery. This is particularly important in patients who fall into a “high risk category” for having a serious response to the virus.

For detailed information and forms, please visit www.giveapint.org/covid-plasma-form/ or contact Diane Wiest, RN, Senior Director of Risk Management and Donor Health, at 484-225-8351 or [email protected]. 

Miller-Keystone Blood Center, under the authorization of the U.S. Food and Drug Association (FDA), has been collecting and procuring Convalescent Plasma since April 2020. COVID-19 convalescent plasma has not been approved or licensed by the FDA; COVID-19 convalescent plasma has been authorized by the FDA under an EUA; COVID-19 convalescent plasma is authorized only for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of the emergency use of drugs and biological products during the COVID-19 pandemic under section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner.

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