Coronavirus convalescent plasma programme announced

NHS Blood and Transplant is to collect convalescent plasma from people who have recovered from coronavirus to support a national clinical trial.

The Department of Health and Social Care announced the trial to investigate whether plasma transfusions could improve a coronavirus patient’s speed of recovery and chances of survival. The first donations have now been collected and the first transfusions will follow later this month. The transfusions will be done through the existing REMAP-CAP trial and further trial options are being explored.

Recovered patients’ plasma may contain antibodies that their immune systems have produced in fighting the virus. That plasma can be transfused to patients whose immune systems are struggling to develop their own antibodies. Plasma can also be collected and frozen ahead of any second wave of coronavirus.

Additionally, NHSBT is rapidly building up capacity to collect plasma so that it can deliver at a large scale, if transfusions are shown to help patients.

The NHSBT-led consortium will build up capacity in April and May so that it could collect up to 10,000 units a week, with the final figure dependant on the trial results and hospital demand. To scale up collection, we have started using plasmapheresis, recruited more than 150 new staff, prioritised plasma donation at donor centres, and will use new venues for plasma-only donation sessions.

Dr Gail Miflin, Chief Medical Officer at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “As well as continuing to collect enough blood throughout this outbreak, we are also heavily involved in the national research response including major trials of this potential treatment. We are also rapidly building our capability to collect plasma so that we can quickly move into supplying hospitals at scale, should the trial demonstrate patient benefit. To deliver this ambitious programme, we will need collaboration from across the health sector.”