ST. LOUIS — Infusing sick COVID-19 patients with the plasma from those who’ve already recovered is happening more in the St. Louis area.
It only takes 10 minutes, and now patients at one of the area’s largest health care systems will begin getting the treatment.
About 15 coronavirus patients at SSM Health will get the plasma treatment this week. The plasma gives sick patients the antibodies that fight the virus. It’s all part of a national trial with the Mayo Clinic and a partnership with the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center.
To get the plasma donations, SSM Health is calling their own patients who’ve recovered.
It’s not a vaccine, but it can save lives. One donation from a recovered COVID-19 patient can help up to four people.
Read more:
- If you’ve recovered from COVID-19, you could save someone else’s life
- Tom Hanks donates plasma to UCLA to help fight coronavirus
- St. Louis pediatrician donates plasma after recovering from COVID-19
- Blues broadcaster to donate plasma after recovering from COVID-19
- Washington University seeking more blood plasma donations from COVID-19 survivors
- Mercy doctors see 'promising signs' in experimental coronavirus treatment