Orlando Health is working to educate patients and community members about ways they may be able to help make COVID-19 convalescent plasma a treatment option for others.

On March 24, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of COVID-19 convalescent plasma as an emergency investigational treatment for critically ill patients with coronavirus. Convalescent plasma is collected through blood donation from patients who have recovered from an infection such as COVID-19. Antibodies within this plasma can boost an infected patient’s immune system and potentially help them recover more quickly.

To help in the donation effort, Orlando Health patients are provided COVID-19 convalescent plasma treatment education materials, eligibility criteria, and instructions during the discharge process. In addition, Orlando Health social media channels will also share the information to build awareness for community members who have recovered.

Eligible donors must meet the following criteria:

·         Eligible to donate blood

·         Prior diagnosis of COVID-19 documented by an FDA-approved laboratory test

·         Complete resolution of symptoms for at least 14 days prior to donation of convalescent plasma AND a documented negative FDA-approved COVID-19 test OR

·         Complete resolution of symptoms for at least 28 days prior to donation

The plasma can be collected either from whole-blood or plasma-only donors.

For additional information, contact OneBlood at 1-888-9Donate (1-888-936-6283) and select option 9, or visit https://www.oneblood.org/lp/covid-19-convalescent-plasma.stml#btndonate.