UK to start trials on whether plasma could help coronavirus patients

UK is set to start trials to see whether plasma collected from donors who have recovered from COVID-19 could be an effective treatment for patients who are severely unwell with the disease.

Up to 5,000 severely ill patients with coronavirus could soon be treated each week with plasma as part of a new approach to treating the virus, the health department said on Saturday.

Plasma from recovered coronavirus patients can be transfused to patients who are struggling to produce their own antibodies against the virus.

Plasma from recovered coronavirus patients can be transfused to patients who are struggling to produce their own antibodies against the virus.

Blood is taken from one arm and circulated through a machine that separates out the plasma, and then returned to the donor. The process takes about 45 minutes and provides two units of plasma per donation, which can also be frozen and stored ahead for any future need.