People found to have coronavirus through Test and Trace will be asked to donate blood plasma

An NHSBT spokesman said: “We thank everyone who beat Covid-19 who got a text and is now offering to donate convalescent plasma.

“We particularly want to hear from recovered people who are men, or who are aged over 35 or who needed hospital treatment. People falling into one of these three categories are likely to have higher antibody levels, which means their plasma is more likely to be able to save lives.”

Plasma from former patients is rich in the antibodies that develop as a person recovers from an illness.

It is transfused into people who are seriously ill with Covid-19 and struggling to develop their own antibodies.

If the trial is successful, being treated with convalescent plasma could become widespread practice in hospitals.

Early analysis in the trial has found that people from Asian communities who have recovered from coronavirus are more likely to have antibody-rich convalescent plasma which can save lives.

New figures, reported into the trial programme last week, showed that Asian convalescent plasma donors are almost twice as likely to have high antibody levels as white donors – 63 per cent of Asian donors met the threshold, compared to 36 per cent  of white donors.

  • Anyone who has had coronavirus or the symptoms, and who lives near a donor centre, can offer to donate by calling 0300 123 23 23 or visiting www.nhsbt.nhs.uk.

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