Discharged COVID-19 patients urged to donate blood for plasma therapy

TDT | Manama

A call has gone out for individuals who have recovered from the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease to donate blood for convalescent plasma therapy. Bahrain Defence Force Hospital Infectious Disease Consultant and Microbiologist Lt. Col. Dr. Manaf Al Qahtan said that donating blood to help combat COVID-19 is a national responsibility, and all recovered citizens and residents are welcome to contribute by contacting the blood donation department at the Royal Medical Services (RMS).

Dr. Al Qahtani noted that the Kingdom continues to modify its treatment protocols and strategies, including the use of plasma from recovered individuals. Dr. Al Qahtani further noted that during April, a committee headed by the RMS Commander Major General Shaikh Khaled bin Ali Al Khalifa was established to conduct clinical research related to COVID-19, with a blood bank accepting plasma donations launched at the BDF Hospital, where more than 200 recovered patients were able to donate.

Clarifying the medical theory behind the use of plasma, Dr. Al Qahtani explained that once an individual becomes sick, the body’s immunity produces antibodies, which are proteins used to help the body fight the specific virus. Recovered patients have proven to be successful in producing these antibodies, which are located in the blood’s plasma.

Dr. Al Qahtani outlined that recovered patients are able to donate plasma by providing blood, which takes around 10 minutes, which is then used for current active cases by convalescent plasma therapy across various isolation centres in the Kingdom. Dr. Al Qahtani added that extracting blood from recovered patients does not lessen their immunity from the virus.

He said that individuals who wish to donate blood for convalescent plasma therapy, are required to fit the following criteria: they must have recovered from COVID-19, have good health, have completed the obligatory quarantine period of 14 days with a negative exit test result, and should be between the ages of 21 and 60 with a weight of 50kg and above. Additionally, females wishing to donate blood should have never been pregnant.