BLOOD plasma from survivors will be given to 5,000 coronavirus patients a week in an NHS trial.<br /><br />It is hoped antibodies in blood from those who have recovered will clear the bug in others with a weaker immune response.<br />So-called convalescent plasma was used as an effective treatment during the SARS outbreak.<br /><br />Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “I have every hope this treatment will be a major milestone in our fight against this disease.”<br /><br />NHS Blood and Transplant will contact those who have recovered from confirmed Covid-19 and could be a donor.<br /><br />Blood is taken from an arm, circulated through a machine to separate the plasma and returned to the donor.<br /><br />The 45-minute process produces two units of plasma, which can be frozen and stored for future use.<br />Dr Gail Miflin, from NHSBT, said: “We are rapidly building our capability to collect plasma so we can quickly move into supplying hospitals at scale, should the trial show patient benefit.”<br /><br />Prof Jonathan Van Tam, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, added that the UK already had more than 7,000 people involved testing a range of medicines to tackle Covid-19.<br /><br />Recovered patients will be asked to donate plasma.
