Convalescent plasma may play a role in reducing COVID-19 hospitalisations

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2022-03-31 08:00

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Transfusions of convalescent plasma taken from the blood of people previously infected with COVID-19 could reduce the risk of severe COVID-19, according to international research. In a randomised controlled trial, the researchers gave about 600 COVID-19 patients a plasma infusion from a COVID-19 survivor, and another 600 a placebo infusion. They say a convalescent plasma transfusion within nine days of COVID-19 symptoms reduced the risk of hospitalisation by about 54 per cent. The researchers say the result was similar to that of monoclonal antibody treatments, which could provide a less expensive, more widely available treatment option.