The part plasma to play in patient recoveries

Prisma Health is playing a part in a national investigation in a treatment to test the effectiveness of blood plasma in severe or critically-ill COVID-19 patients. The treatment is developed from the plasma of recovered COVID-19 patients and then administered to hospitalized patients who have life-threatening COVID-19 disease. The overall goal of the trial is to determine if blood plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients can improve the chance of recovery for people severely-ill with the disease. Prisma is participating in al coalition established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. COVID-19 patients who meet certain criteria established by the FDA are eligible for the treatment. Mayo Clinic serves as the lead institution, with blood banks helping to collect the plasma and distribute it for use in COVID-19 patients in approximately 100 sites across the country, including Prisma Health. A partnership with Prisma Health and The Blood Connection based in Greenville will ensure local plasma is available for South Carolinians. As needed, the University of South Carolina will provide lab testing. Recovered COVID-19 patients are encouraged to donate blood plasma. The donated blood plasma could be made into convalescent serum and given to approved patients within days.
How to donate
If you have recovered from COVID-19 and wish to donate, please contact The Blood Connection (864)751-1168 to make an appointment. The Blood Connection is based in the Upstate area. In addition, donation times and locations will be scheduled in the Midlands based on the number of interested donors who meet the criteria.
Positive test documentation/results can include the following:
• A copy of the donor lab results showing a positive test for COVID-19 which shows the date of the positive test.

• A document from their healthcare provider stating that the donor had a positive test for COVID-19 and the date of the positive test. This document must be on the letter¬head or prescription pad of the healthcare provider and must be signed and dated by the healthcare provider.
• Please note that The Blood Connection does not test for COVID-19.