Blood products

Against the background of growing fears in people - the Nova TV team set out to track down a scheme for selling blood plasma on the black market. Pandemic has changed the illegal market and blood brokers are already selling plasma, said to be an effective remedy for Covid-19. Its price may reach BGN 5,000.

World Blood Donor Day this year once again will be held on June 14, but in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was established in 2004 to raise awareness of the need for safe blood, and to thank donors for their life-saving gift.

The Turkish Red Crescent collected 3,970 immune plasmas donated across the country amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, according to the group's top official.

Two patients who are critically ill with Covid-19 are being treated with blood plasma from people who have recovered from the disease, Greek health authorities said on Thursday.

A Syrian man who beat coronavirus wants to donate lifesaving immune plasma as a gesture of gratitude to the Turkish people.

Muhammed Alismail, 27, came to Turkey with his family seven years ago after fleeing the Syrian civil war. He started bachelor's in environmental engineering at Karabük University.

On April 29, Wednesday, blood plasma from people with antibodies against Covid-19 was infused into a seriously ill patient infected with the coronavirus. On Thursday morning the patient was in good general condition.

A blood plasma collection campaign for treating patients infected with the novel coronavirus started on Tuesday morning in Romania, and the first three plasma collections from COVID-19-cured donors took place at the Bucharest Blood Transfusion Centre. The Health Ministry (MS) says the plasma will be tested and after biological certification it will be made available to hospitals.

Over 1,000 coronavirus patients in Turkey are hoping to benefit from possibly life-saving immune plasma treatment from the Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay), the group's head said on April 27. 

In a video press conference, Dr. Kerem Kınık said 567 people across Turkey have donated immune plasma, while 1,066 people are hoping for the plasma treatment.

Patients who have recovered from the coronavirus have been mobilizing to donate immune plasma to help others with treatment, according to the head of the Turkish Red Crescent.

Dr. Kerem Kınık said on April 24 more than 800 immune plasma components were made available to the ministry of health and university hospitals.

A methodology for collecting, testing, processing, storing and distributing plasma from donors cured of the infection with the novel coronavirus and the monitored use for COVID-19 critically ill patients in intensive care has been completed, the Romanian Health Ministry announced on Wednesday.