Over 1,800 COVID-19 patients treated with convalescent plasma

Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has treated 1,883 COVID-19 patients with convalescent plasma in Qatar, said Medical Director of Communicable Disease Center, Dr. Muna Al Maslamani adding that the therapy may help people recover from COVID-19.

“It may lessen the severity or shorten length of the disease,” she told The Peninsula. Dr. Al Maslamani also indicated that administrating convalescent plasma early in the course of disease has shown improved survival and that the success level of convalescent plasma therapy for COVID-19 patients is varied from one patient to another. Convalescent plasma therapy uses blood from people who have recovered from the virus infection to help others recover. “Blood donated by people who have recovered from COVID-19 has antibodies to the virus that causes it. The donated blood is processed to remove blood cells, leaving behind liquid (plasma) and antibodies. These can be given to people with COVID-19 to boost their ability to fight the virus,” said Dr. Al Maslamani.