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Versiti Blood Center urges COVID-19 survivors to donate plasma

Recovered from COVID-19? Your plasma could be key to develop treatment for ill patients
Posted at 11:50 AM, Nov 11, 2020
and last updated 2020-11-11 12:50:26-05

WISCONSIN — Versiti Blood Center is urging COVID-19 survivors to donate plasma, as they are struggling to keep up with hospital needs.

COVID-19 cases are rapidly increasing in Wisconsin which has led to more people in the hospital, and more deaths. Versiti Blood Center said it needs plasma Convalescent Plasma (CCP) to help hospitalized COVID-19 patients recover.

“We are facing a critical need,” said Dr. Dan Waxman, vice president of transfusion medicine and senior medical officer at Versiti. “Without intervention from the community, we face the very real possibility that we won’t be able to fill orders for patients in hospitals we serve. This important therapy cannot be manufactured."

CCP is a blood-related therapy that hospitals use on the most severely affected patients. The plasma contains antibodies that can help fight off the virus, Versiti Blood Center said in a press release.

Versiti said in the past few days, the plasma has been shipping off three times faster than it's coming in.

“Currently inventory levels of COVID convalescent plasma are an enormous concern; our inventory levels have dwindled from four weeks to four days,” said Dr. Waxman. “We’re pleading with the community – if you’ve been diagnosed with COVID and have been symptom-free for 14 days, please consider giving an hour of your time to help others who are facing an uphill climb in battling the virus.”

If you've already donated CCP, please know that you can donate up to 12 times, so, call 877-BE-A-HERO to make another appointment.

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