NHS appeals for plasma donors after record number of Covid cases

By Toby Porter

NHS Blood and Transplant is urging people in Tooting hitting the 28-day Covid-19 recovery mark to register as plasma donors.

People can only donate 28 days after they’ve recovered, so the number of potential donors is now at the highest ever level following the national record number of cases over the New Year.

More than 8,000 people living in and around Tooting donor centre have already registered to donate convalescent plasma after having coronavirus.

The antibody-rich plasma of people who’ve had the disease might save the lives of people who struggle to develop their own immune response to the virus.

Professor Dave Roberts, Associate Medical Director for Blood Donation at NHSBT, said: “More people than ever are now able to help – the time to donate is now.

“We especially need donations from people in Bristol who’ve had hospital care. Men who had hospital care are around six times more likely to have the high antibody levels which might save lives.”

NHSBT is collecting plasma for new trials for older people or those with cancer to treat them early in the course of the infection.  More than 1,700 donations have been taken at Tooting donor centre on 75 Cranmer Terrace, so far.

Prof Roberts added: “We have completed two trials. We now need to collect plasma for further studies. We’re particularly looking at high risk groups such as the elderly and people with cancer.

“Donations are vital to the ongoing lifesaving research, which gives us a better understanding of how we can best treat patients with COVID-19 and prevent deaths in the future.”

Donation takes about 45 minutes. Your body quickly replaces the donated plasma and donated antibodies. All donations are tested for COVID antibodies. Men, black and Asian people, and people aged over 35, are more likely to have the high antibody levels needed for donation.

People can register to donate online at www.nhsbt.nhs.uk