Faridabad to have blood plasma bank

Bijendra Ahlawat

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, July 7

The district administration has announced a blood plasma bank here for Covid patients. The bank will come up in ESIC Medical College and Hospital, which is the official Covid hospital.

Deputy Commissioner Yashpal Yadav said ESIC hospital would operate the blood plasma bank, while the District Red Cross Society would function as the nodal agency. The Red Cross Society will have the responsibility of contacting with plasma donors and provide donors when needed.

“All private hospitals have been asked to share information of patients cured by them and approach them for donating plasma. The success rate of the plasma therapy treatment is remarkable,” Yadav said.

Faridabad district has recorded 4,770 Covid cases and 95 deaths.

Dr Nimisha Sharma, associate professor, microbiology department of the ESIC Medical College, claimed the recovery rate of the plasma therapy treatment was 100 per cent.

“Eight patients, who were treated with the plasma therapy, have recovered. At present, two patients are undergoing plasma therapy treatment. About 300 donors have been contacted so far. Of the 30 donors screened, nine have been selected,” she said.

She added there were several requirements for donating plasma. Donors must have recovered from Covid two weeks prior to donating plasma. They must be symptomatic patients before treatment and aged between 18 and 65 years. Lastly, they must weigh 50 kg at the time of donating plasma.