Convalescent plasma treatment
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A treatment which involves antibodies donated by people who have
recovered from a coronavirus infection is helping thousands of patients worldwide who are severely ill with Covid-19
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Covid-19 survivors: Donate blood when they have recovered from illness – must have shown no symptoms for at least 14 days

Plasma (55%)
White blood cells and platelets (<1%)
Red blood cells (45%)

Plasma: Liquid portion of blood that remains when all red, white blood cells and platelets have been removed. Plasma contains antibodies

Apheresis: 200-600ml of plasma is collected from each donor


Covid-19 patients: Severe or critical patient is given 200-400ml of plasma intravenously


Antibodies: Proteins secreted by B lymphocytes – immune cells – when body is attacked by pathogen

SARS-Cov-2 coronavirus

Therapy: Antibodies bind to virus in infected patients’ blood, marking it for destruction
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Sources: Eurekalert, Kings College London, The Lancet
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