LEE COUNTY, Fla. — Lee Health needs convalescent plasma donations to help refill supply levels.
Lee Health is participating in Mayo Clinic’s COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Study.
Convalescent plasma refers to blood plasma collected from people who have recovered from COVID-19 or had an asymptomatic infection.
That plasma is then used to treat others with advanced illness as part of the clinical trial.
The blood donor must have had a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) and be otherwise eligible to donate blood.
The patient is transfused with the donor’s convalescent plasma, which contains antibodies that may attack the virus and may help the patient recover more rapidly.
Here’s how the donation program works at Lee Health:
· Individuals who have previously tested positive for COVID-19 whose symptoms have resolved OR had asymptomatic infection can volunteer to donate blood.
· Donors are screened by clinical personnel with questions and tests to make sure they are appropriate to donate blood that will be processed to make COVID-19 convalescent plasma.
· To volunteer, call 239-343-2332 or email COVID.plasma@LeeHealth.org (Email preferred)
· Documented routine blood donation consent is required; forms provided by Lee Health.
· If potential donors are appropriate, an appointment for blood donation is scheduled at a Lee Health donation site.
All donations collected by Lee Health stay in our community and are used exclusively for Lee Health patients.
