Convalescent Plasma Therapy Tested On Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients

Patients showed an improvement in clinical symptoms 12–24 hours after plasma infusion

- R. Prasad

In the absence of any preventive vaccine or specific antivirals for treating COVID-19 patients infected with the novel coronavirus SARSCoV-2, a pharmaceutical company in China has turned to plasma taken from people who have recovered from the infection to treat critically ill patients.

Convalescent plasma

Convalescent plasma has been listed as a therapeutic method by China’s National Health Commission.

People who have recovered from COVID-19 disease would have antibodies against the virus. Infusing the antibodies to critically ill patients is expected to improve the chances of survival. The plasma that is transfused contains the antibodies.