HMC uses Convalescent Plasma Therapy to treat Covid cases

Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has explained how the Convalescent Plasma Therapy, which it is using to treat Covid-19 patients in Qatar, works.

This treatment involves taking plasma obtained from patients who have recovered from Covid-19 and transfusing it into patients currently battling the virus, HMC says in an infographic.

"As people fight the Covid-19 virus, their body produce antibodies to attack it. These antibodies are secreted by immune cells known as B lymphocytes. These are found in plasma — the liquid part of blood which helps the blood clot and increases immunity. Once a person recovers, the antibodies stay in the body to fight the virus if it returns," the infographic explains.

Plasma from one recovered patient can be used to treat two infected patients. One transfusion is enough to see results, HMC stressed, adding that anyone who has recovered from Covid-19 can donate plasma.

The treatment is being used on Covid-1 9 patients in Qatar, and a Plasma Donation Center has been set up at the Communicable Disease Center.

More information is available at https://www.hamad.qa/EN/Hospitals-and-services/Communicable-Disease-Center/Documents/Plasma-Donation-COVID-19-EN.pdf