Those who have tested positive for COVID-19 and recovered can help patients through plasma donation.
Many blood centers are accepting self-referrals from individuals who have recovered from a COVID-19 infection and would now like to give plasma to help newly diagnosed patients.
Potential donors who can provide documentation of a laboratory-confirmed positive test for COVID-19 and meet other health and safety criteria, will be scheduled for a COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma (CCP) donation. Individual donors and care providers may refer themselves or their patients
CCP donors must be fully recovered from their COVID-19 infection and must meet all standard eligibility criteria for blood donation. The blood center will only collect plasma from donors with laboratory-confirmed tests showing they had a COVID-19 infection who are at least 28 days from the last date they experienced symptoms. These donors will have antibodies to help fight COVID-19. You can schedule your plasma donation at a nearby donor center or mobile blood drive.
Mark Johnson, MD, Critical Care said, “this is a scarce resource right now and can be difficult to acquire so we’re encouraging recovered patients to help meet this important need.”
Carle’s own Jerry Foster of Mahomet were among the first to sign up to donate in Urbana through Community Blood Services. And others are looking to do their part.
“Right now a lot of people feel powerless to this pandemic, but this is something easy and concrete you can do to help people and make a real difference in their lives,” Dr. Johnson said.
Find more information at:
Central Illinois Community Blood Center, Urbana
Call (833) 610-1025
bloodcenter.org
American Red Cross Blood Services
Call (800) 733-2767
Americanredcrossblood.org
The American Association on Blood Banks (AABB) lists 11 Blood Donation Centers within 100 miles of Champaign that currently accept CCP donation. List Here.
Categories: Community