NHS asking for plasma donations from COVID recovered patients

[Orangeblossom78]

This might be interesting to some of you- NHS is asking for donations of blood plasma from those who have either tested positive or had symptoms.

Link www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/how-you-can-help/convalescent-plasma-clinical-trial/

Thanks for this. I've registered (took less than 1 minute. I have only self isolated, no positive test, so they may not need me.

Argh, I had a transfusion in 2012 so not eligible. Would have done though

Thanks for sharing this!

Thanks - another registration

I got an error message clicking on the link? Is the site down? Or just me?

Oh ignore that it’s working now

This is only for people who have tested positive for the virus though

No, it says or had symptoms. But it does say something about contact tracing though. It is a bit vague.

if you go through the form and choose the had symptoms but no positive test it will then say that you are not eligible.

Oh really? It is a shame they didn't test more people at the start, then they might have more donations...

I went through the registration and said I had symptoms but no positive test and it said I was eligible!

@TravellingSpoon mine was eligible. It may be another element you had that didn’t match with requirements.

I've sent the link to my mum, she and my brother were ill, not tested but dad was and was positive so pretty certain they have had it. Hopefully they would accept that as positive enough.

@ShastaBeast is right, it was my mistake. I put my details in again and it went through.

I already donate blood.

I wonder if they test for antibodies before the plasma donation then? Otherwise if you haven't already had a positive test how will they know if it will be useful?

Apparently they can test for antibodies in a lab and it’s very reliable. It’s just the finger prick versions that aren’t reliable enough. I presume they do test to see if the person has a high enough count. Some experts are saying they think people who are asymptomatic or very mild will have the lower antibody counts. If the sickest cases are strongest then the hospitalised survivors should be the best donors.

I went through the form and it said I was eligible even though no positive test. I live in London and donate blood though so maybe that’s why as said more likely if you live in a city and already on blood donor register. I guess they can tell from email and postcode?

Would patients who had been extremely sick be well enough to donate plasma though, would they not need to be in relatively good health?

if you go through the form and choose the had symptoms but no positive test it will then say that you are not eligible.

Not for the application done here. Maybe it depends on area/demand?

Thanks for sharing, I'm not eligible (had a baby in the last 6m) but have sent it to my brother and a friend - both young and healthy nhs workers.

Bump for anyone that missed this yesterday.

I’m pretty sure I’ve had it, but never got a test to confirm, so I guess there’s no point in signing up to it.

If you fitted criteria and self isolated put your name down. They might want you.