Mumbai: No donors to administer plasma therapy to COVID-19 patients

A 49-year-old man is one of the first patient from Delhi to be administered plasma therapy at the Max Hospital in Saket. According to doctors, after receiving the plasma therapy treatment, the patient showed progressive improvement.

In Plasma therapy, immunity can be transferred from a healthy person to a sick patient using convalescent plasma. This therapy uses antibodies from the blood of a recovered COVID-19 patient to treat another critical patient.

Mumbai is one of the worst hit cities by COVID-19 with more than 4000 cases. Nearly 500 people have been cured from deadly disease. However, as per sources, the BMC has managed to found only two donors to carry out plasma therapy to critical patients.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Thursday has given permission to Maharashtra government to try out plasma therapy on COVID-19 patients in Mumbai, said Health Minister Rajesh Tope.

Two hospitals, one in Mumbai and in Aurangabad have expressed their interest in starting a trial. The collection of blood from where the plasma is separated is being carried out at BYL Nair Hospital.