Research is underway on coronavirus positive patients to identify the benefits of plasma therapy. Around 400 patients are involved in this research is underway at Delhi government-run Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital.
According to a report, 200 patients will be given convalescent plasma therapy along with other necessary treatments for COVID-19 patients. Another group of 200 coronavirus positive patients will only receive normal treatment. This will help in finding out how beneficial is plasma therapy in the treatment of coronavirus patients. The hospital has received permission to give this therapy to 200 patients and 29 of them have already been administered plasma therapy.
There are three conditions when a patient is administered plasma therapy. The first one is when the level of oxygen saturation reaches below the level of 93. The second scenario when this therapy can be considered is when the respiratory rates are below 20 breathes per minute.
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The third and last situation is when the infection is found in the X-ray of the chest.
Blood plasma is a ‘yellowish liquid’ component of blood that holds the blood cells of whole blood in suspension. It is the liquid part of the blood that carries cells and proteins throughout the body. It makes up about 55% of the body’s total blood volume.
Those aged between 18 and 60 and weighing not less than 50 kg can donate their plasma. Woman, who has been pregnant in her life, cannot donate plasma and also those who take insulin and their blood sugar level is not stable, also cannot be donors.
Meanwhile, a plasma bank to treat novel coronavirus started functioning in Delhi on Thursday, with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal saying that COVID-19 patients can donate their plasma 14 days after recovery.
Addressing an online media briefing, Kejriwal said the eligibility for being a plasma donor is “very strict”, and hoped that with this bank the number of COVID-19 deaths will decrease in the national capital.
The government has set up the plasma bank at the state-run Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS). The chief minister said people who have recovered from the virus can contact 1031 and WhatsApp number — 8800007722 — where they can get details for plasma donation. The donor will also be given an appreciation letter.