Plasma Donations Needed

Plasma donations are needed to help those with COVID-19.

Paulding adds two.

Plasma is a lifeline for thousands of people with rare, chronic diseases.and although the general need for plasma is always there, local plasma agencies say they need donations now more than ever.

Fox 55's jentill neal tells us why plasma donations are important for people fighting covid-19.jentill?the american red cross and bio life plasma services are urging people that can donate to make that move.

Thousands are relying on it.not only are they collecting standard plasma, they are collecting a special type of plasma that will specifically help those with covid-19.

It's called convalescent plasma... the fda describes it as the liquid part of blood that comes from people who've recovered from covid-19... there's a large need for it.

> 22:08:10-22:08:22"the results are positive.

We have shown that it does make a difference, and the increasing number of patients who are sick has lead to an increase in these convalescent plasma donations."the fda says one blood donation can save up to three lives.the american red cross and bio life plasma services are working hard to get the donations to the patients who need it.> 22:08:52-22:09:03"if someone has covid- 19 currently, we are not asking them to donate.

This is for patients who have fully recovered from covid-19 only.

Their bodies have built up antibodies and as a result, they would be eligible."

Biolife plasma services says there are two ways plasma could help fight covid-19.

One is through direct transfusion and the other is hyperimmune globulin.

The company says both treatments are currently being studied as potentially effective responses to covid-19 and if someone has not had covid-19, plasma donations are still needed.this time of year has been challenging.> 22:11:23-22:11:28"we're still encouraging those to come out through july, august, and september because we know the need is going to be there across the country."

If you would like to make a donation, we will have information on how to do that on our website at wfft dom reporting live jentill neal... fox 55 news.