Convalescent Plasma to Treat COVID-19 COVID-19 Checklist
Checklist on Convalescent Plasma to Treat COVID-19
Responding to COVID-19
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is leading an effort to develop a new protocol to provide plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients (referred to as convalescent plasma) to patients who are acutely ill. Convalescent plasma is rich in antibodies that could possibly attack the virus that causes COVID-19. It shows promise to lessen the severity or shorten the length of COVID-19.
The FDA has focused on allowing the use of convalescent plasma to treat COVID-19 through an emergency investigational new drug application process with academic institutions to evaluate its safety and efficacy. FDA also wishes to assure that this potentially helpful treatment is available to individuals who are unable to participate in clinical trials and in single patient emergency situations. Healthcare providers should submit these applications for individual patients.
What you need to know:
- The treatment of COVID-19 patients with convalescent plasma remains in the investigation stage.
- The new protocol is expected to open availability to more patients who do not have access to institutions with clinical trials in place. The FDA anticipates that thousands of units of plasma will be provided to patients in the coming weeks.
The new effort brings together government, industry, and academic partners. It will simplify the process for healthcare providers to help ensure patient safety and collect information about effectiveness.
- The Rochester, Minnesota-based Mayo Clinic is the lead institution in the effort. Information for healthcare providers, patients, and potential donors can be found at https://www.uscovidplasma.org.
- The American Red Cross will help collect and distribute plasma across the country.
- People who have been fully recovered from COVID-19 for at least two weeks are encouraged to consider donating plasma. For more information or to sign up to donate, visit www.redcrossblood.org/plasma4covid or contact a local blood donor or plasma collection center. Donors should not use the regular appointment scheduling tool on the Red Cross website or mobile app.
- Each donation could potentially help up to four patients.
- Physicians seeking access for patients or to refer patients, also can submit information at www.redcrossblood.org/plasma4covid.
- The FDA also is helping to coordinate a study of hyperimmune globulin, manufactured from convalescent plasma, for the potential treatment COVID-19. The study will be conducted by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health.
For answers to your COVID-19 questions, call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).
If you or a loved one are experiencing anxiety related to the coronavirus pandemic, help is available. Call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 (1-800-846-8517 TTY); connect with a trained counselor through the Ohio Crisis Text Line by texting the keyword “4HOPE” to 741 741; or call the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services help line at 1-877-275-6364 to find resources in your community.
Protect yourself and others from COVID-19 by taking these precautions.
- Stay home
- Practice Social Distancing
- Get adequate sleep and eat well-balanced meals
- Wash hands often with water and soap (20 seconds or longer)
- Dry hands with a clean towel or air dry your hands
- Cover your mouth with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth with unwashed hands or after touching surfaces
- Clean and disinfect "High-Touch" surfaces often
- Call before visiting your doctor
- Practice good hygiene habits
If you have questions regarding Coronavirus/COVID-19 please call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634)
CLEAN ALL "HIGH-TOUCH" SURFACES EVERY DAY
High touch surfaces include counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables. Also, clean any surfaces that may have blood, stool, or body fluids on them. Use a household cleaning spray or wipe according to the label instructions. Labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product including precautions you should take when applying the product, such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product.