Appeal for people like Ihtisham, who were hospitalised with COVID, to donate blood plasma

NHS Blood and Transplant needs more people who were in hospital with COVID-19 to donate blood plasma.

Donors who received hospital treatment for coronavirus are more likely to have the high level of antibodies needed for convalescent plasma, which could help others in hospital struggling to develop their own immune response to the virus.

People of all levels of illness can donate – including people with minor symptoms – but there is a special need for the most seriously ill people to donate as new analysis shows generally they have the highest antibody levels.

So far, 62 people who needed hospital care have donated at Manchester’s two donor centres, in Plymouth Grove and Norfolk Street.

Many more donations have been taken from people who had COVID but did not need hospital care.

Ihtisham Ali, from Clarksfield, donated plasma for the first time last week, after falling ill with coronavirus over the summer.

The 29-year-old did not need hospital care but said he spent 2-3 weeks at home feeling very unwell and fatigued.

He said: “Donating was quite chilled – it wasn’t as much of a big deal as you make it up to be in your mind.”

Ihtisham, a tester for the Co-Op bank, said he was inspired to donate after his father died waiting for a kidney on the transplant list.

“Dad was a renal patient for five years, and help was too late for him," he said.

"So I just wanted to help other people who were waiting for help.”

NHSBT is taking donations for the plasma arms of the RECOVERY and REMAP-CAP trials.

The trials will determine whether the antibody-rich blood plasma found in people who’ve had coronavirus could be an effective treatment for general use in the NHS.

Around 250 people have received plasma transfusions in hospitals in Greater Manchester.

Professor David Roberts, NHSBT associate medical director for blood donation, said: “Our analysis shows people who had hospital care make our best donors.

"They have the highest antibody levels and their antibodies stay higher for longer.

"Your body quickly replaces the donated plasma and antibodies and it does not affect antibody levels in the long term.

“We are grateful to people who have been willing to donate their plasma.

"Especially to those who were in hospital and will have had a difficult time this year.

"By donating, they could be helping to save lives.”

If you’ve had confirmed coronavirus or the symptoms, you can volunteer today to donate plasma at: www.nhsbt.nhs.uk or simply search online for ‘donate plasma’.

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