Reid Health joins Mayo Clinic program for treating COVID-19
Reid Health. He said the treatment is typically tried when an infectious disease is serious with little to no treatment options, as is the case with COVID-19.
The health system launched a donor drive, encouraging recovered COVID-19 patients to consider
becoming plasma donors. Dr. Huth said the treatment is showing promise in China, Europe and on the west coast of the United States. "Many doctors and organizations are interested in trying convalescent plasma in hopes that it will prevent the most serious complications of the disease, save lives and reduce demand on health care
system resources."
Matthew Vail, M.D., Infectious Disease Specialist with Reid Health, said Reid's participation in the program is great news for patients being treated for the virus. "This offers great potential in helping with our limited options for treating this virus."
Donors will need to have tested positive for COVID-19 and have
fully recovered from COVID-19 for at least two weeks. The
treatment will be offered to hospitalized patients who are at high risk of having to go on a ventilator or those patients already receiving ventilation therapy.
The donation process involves drawing whole blood from a donor, then separating plasma that contains antibodies. Donors have to give at the Community Blood Center in Dayton because Reid Health does not have the specialized equipment required to take the donations. The program follows Mayo protocols.
Reid Health has been able to treat a few patients with plasma so far, though outcomes and effectiveness remains to be determined - and more donors are needed.
Providers can refer recovered COVID-19 patients to the donor registry. Patients can visit www.ReidHealth.org/donateplasma, call (765) 973-8082, or email COVIDPlasma.Donation@ReidHealth.org.