Researchers Looking for COVID-19 Survivors

UW Medicine and Bloodworks Northwest are looking for COVID-19 survivors who are interested in providing plasma donations.

The groups say donated plasma can be used to make medicine containing antibodies to treat people who are fighting a severe infection or who cannot make antibodies on their own.

It is unclear if the survivor's antibodies would help, but researchers say they want to develop a potential new therapy.

Here's the full press release from UW Medicine:

UW Medicine and Bloodworks Northwest
are seeking adult volunteers who have recovered from documented
SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection to be considered for donation of
plasma. 

Plasma is the liquid component of blood that contains various
proteins. Antibodies are proteins in plasma that defend your body
against infections. Donated plasma can be used to make medicine
containing antibodies to treat people who are fighting a severe
infection or who cannot make antibodies on their own. Plasma and
medication made from it are used routinely to treat many different
diseases. It is unknown whether the antibodies in plasma from people who
have recovered from COVID-19 can help people who are ill with a COVID
infection.

“We are excited about moving forward in this time of a serious
pandemic to develop a potential new therapy for this infection,” said
Dr. Terry Gernsheimer, a professor of medicine (hematology) at the University of Washington School of Medicine. She and Dr. Anna Wald, UW professor of medicine, epidemiology and laboratory medicine, are co-lead investigators, working with Dr. Rebecca Haley, medical director of Bloodworks Northwest’s apheresis center.

Plasma is collected by plasmapheresis, a process with a specialized
medical instrument that separates plasma from the cells in the blood.
This safe and sterile process collects the plasma, while remaining blood
(including red blood cells and white blood cells) is returned to
the plasma donor. The body rapidly replaces the plasma and the proteins
that are removed, so people can donate once every two weeks.

If you are in general good health and have recovered from a COVID-19
infection, you might be able to help.  Your first visit would be at the University of Washington Virology Research Clinic
to assess your health and confirm your COVID-19 infection.  At that
visit, blood would be drawn to see whether you would qualify to be a
plasma donor. Depending on the results, you may be invited to make an
appointment at Bloodworks Northwest for further screening to become a
plasma donor.

If you might be interested to participate, please email your name and contact information to covidplasma@uw.edu or call 206.520.4212 to leave a message.