Home » Norton Healthcare, UofL Health seek plasma donations from recovered COVID-19 patients

Norton Healthcare, UofL Health seek plasma donations from recovered COVID-19 patients

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Fully recovered COVID-19 patients may be uniquely equipped to help others now battling the deadly virus. Plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients (COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma) contains antibodies that may provide a way for the immune system to fight off the disease.

To assist in the collection of this critical plasma product, Norton Healthcare and UofL Health are partnering with the Kentucky Blood Center for a special collection event. KBC will host a convalescent COVID-19 plasma collection drive on April 30 and May 1 at KCB’s Hillview location: 5406 Antle Dr., Louisville, KY 40299.

Norton Healthcare will continue to conduct screening and antibody testing for recovered patients who wish to donate plasma. Those patients then will be referred to Kentucky Blood Center, where they will be scheduled to donate at one of two Louisville locations. Each person who donates plasma can generate enough to treat up to three COVID-19 patients.

“It’s not a cure, but there is a tremendous amount of hope that convalescent plasma can assist more patients to beat COVID-19,” said Jason Smith, chief medical officer at UofL Health. “Across our community and state, so many have sacrificed to slow the spread of this virus. We need that same kind of enthusiasm and commitment now around donations for plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients.”

To donate, a donor must have a positive lab test indicating the disease was present and complete resolution of the symptoms for a minimum of 28 days, OR a positive test as described and no symptoms for at least 14 days PLUS a negative lab test confirming the donor is no longer infected. For more information contact: [email protected].

“Kentucky Blood Center is thrilled to be able to assist our hospital partners throughout the state in this cutting-edge medical treatment,” said Kentucky Blood Center CEO Bill Reed. “Lifesaving is our business and we were excited to help UofL obtain the critically needed product as quickly as possible through a strategic collection event.”