Plasmapheresis

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.

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.

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.

An emergency medical services worker in eastern Turkey who beat the novel coronavirus has helped other COVID-19 patients recover by donating her plasma.

Melek Yıldırım, a paramedic living in Diyarbakır, was infected with the virus during a trip to France and overcame it after 13 days of treatment.

Head of Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) on April 7 announced that patients who have recovered from the novel coronavirus can help heal others 14 days after their recovery.

Kerem Kınık stated that donors can help six COVID-19 immune patients by donating plasma three times in a week, he noted that one unit was 400 milliliters.

A university in eastern Turkey has begun using blood plasma for the passive immunization of novel coronavirus patients.

"Treatment started yesterday [April 5] by collecting plasma from a patient who has recovered from the novel coronavirus and subsequently tested negative," said Ahmet Kızılay the rector of İnönü University in Malatya province.