As plasma therapy has been seen as a potential treatment for Coronavirus Delhi government is pushing for it. On Thursday Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced the opening of the country’s first Plasma Bank in the country through video conference. It is set up at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) and will be made available to government and private hospitals.
The CM also announced the guidelines for people who want to donate plasma to the bank to help treat others. “So far, people have been facing many hassles in getting plasma for coronavirus treatment. I hope they will get some relief now. I also hope more and more will now come forward to donate plasma. Unless it’s donated, how will others get it“, said the CM.
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“If you have fully recovered from coronavirus and are free of symptoms for 14 days, you can donate plasma“, he added. The therapy which got approval from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR0 during the lockdown stage in actual is called the “convalescent-plasma therapy“. The therapy requires blood to be drawn from a person who has recovered from coronavirus.
The serum is separated and screened for virus-neutralizing antibodies. The convalescent serum is then administered to a COVID-19 patient. Here are the announcement made for the donors of Plasma:
- Govt will arrange for transport to the ILBS Hospital, or reimburse travel costs.
- Those who are not yet been tested negative after being tested positive for Covid initially, Govt. will arrange for them to be tested.
- Refreshments to be provided during the visit to the Plasma Bank
- Donors to get Gaurav Patra aka Plasma Donor Certificate signed by the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Delhi.
Those with chronic kidney, heart, lung, or liver disease, can’t donate plasma. Donors register themselves by contacting the Delhi government officials by calling 1031 or on Whatsapp number – 8800007722. After registration, a doctor will call you to ensure you are eligible to donate plasma or not. The process takes around 45 minutes to 1 hour.
