Red Cross requesting plasma from people who’ve recovered from COVID-19

Samantha Cook,
Plasma Donation
Red Cross plasma donation. (Source: CNN)

DOUGHERTY COUNTY, Ga. – Nearly 60,000 people have recovered from COVID-19 in the United States and the Red Cross wants to collect their plasma to help seriously ill COVID-19 patients.

Researchers hope that the plasma can be given to people with severe COVID-19 symptoms to boost their ability to fight the virus.

“When we take their plasma and it has the antibodies in it, those antibodies are specific to the virus. So when we issue it the hospitals and physicians are transfusing it to individuals who are very ill and the antibodies can then target the virus to help the virus clear from the body faster,” says Dr. Baia Lasky, medical director with American Red Cross.

To donate, you must be at least 17, in good health and have a prior, verified diagnosis of COVID-19.

For more information on the plasma program click here.

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