A new study involving researchers from London is examining whether plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients can help treat those suffering from the most severe cases of the virus.
Lawson Health Research Institute scientists are among the Canadian researchers taking part in the large, multi-centre study.
Through a trial, they will be using convalescent plasma transfusions to see whether COVID-19 specific protein antibodies will help fight serious infection in other individuals.
Convalescent plasma is a term that describes plasma from a person who has recovered from illness. The antibodies within it are produced by the immune system to fight whatever virus the body is infected with and provide a degree of long-term immunity.
“This is an experiment. We don’t yet know if this treatment will show benefit, but it does show promise as similar treatments have had some success in studies of other viral infections such as SARS,” Dr. Ziad Solh, Lawson associate scientist and hematologist and transfusion medicine specialist at London Health Sciences Centre, said in a statement.
Approximately 1,200 people over the age of 16 from Canada and New York are being recruited to participate in the study. According to researchers, measurable outcomes will include rate of intubation and mortality rate after 30 days of enrollment in the trial.
Canadian Blood Services is coordinating the convalescent plasma donations from those under the age of 67 who have fully recovered from COVID-19 and been symptom-free for at least 28 days. Information on how to donate is listed on the Canadian Blood Services website.
